Encryption & Decryption

Encryption & Decryption:

Encryption is the process of translating plain text data (plaintext) into something that appears to be random and meaningless (ciphertext). Decryption is the process of converting ciphertext back to plaintext.

To encrypt more than a small amount of data, symmetric encryption is used. A symmetric key is used during both the encryption and decryption processes. To decrypt a particular piece of ciphertext, the key that was used to encrypt the data must be used.

The goal of every encryption algorithm is to make it as difficult as possible to decrypt the generated ciphertext without using the key. If a really good encryption algorithm is used, there is no technique significantly better than methodically trying every possible key. For such an algorithm, the longer the key, the more difficult it is to decrypt a piece of ciphertext without possessing the key.

Encryption:

Encryption is the process of converting plaintext or readable data into ciphertext, which is an unreadable or encoded form. The purpose of encryption is to secure the information and prevent unauthorized access. Encryption often involves the use of a key, which is a parameter or piece of information used in conjunction with the encryption algorithm. The key determines how the plaintext is transformed into ciphertext.

Decryption:

Decryption is the process of converting ciphertext back into its original plaintext form. It is the reverse of the encryption process. In symmetric encryption, the same key used for encryption is also used for decryption. In asymmetric encryption, the decryption key is different from the encryption key.

It is difficult to determine the quality of an encryption algorithm. Algorithms that look promising sometimes turn out to be very easy to break, given the proper attack. When selecting an encryption algorithm, it is a good idea to choose one that has been in use for several years and has successfully resisted all attacks.