π Symmetric vs Asymmetric Encryption
The Perfect Pair for Data Security
Every secure system begins with keys, but how you use them makes all the difference π
β΄οΈ Symmetric Encryption
β’ Uses one shared key for both encryption and decryption.
β’ Fast and efficient β great for large amounts of data.
β’ The challenge: both sides must securely share the same key.
β
Examples: AES, DES, 3DES
β΄οΈ Asymmetric Encryption
β’ Uses two keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.
β’ Slower, but perfect for building trust and exchanging secrets safely.
β
Examples: RSA, ECC, Diffie-Hellman
π How They Work Together
In real-world systems, we often use asymmetric encryption to securely share a symmetric key,
then use symmetric encryption to handle the actual data because itβs much faster.
Thatβs exactly how HTTPS and TLS work behind the scenes β secure key exchange first, then fast data encryption.
π§ Simply put:
β’ Symmetric β one key, fast, but hard to share safely
β’ Asymmetric β two keys, slower, but enables secure sharing
β’ Together β speed + security
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