Data Encryption

Encryption is crucial to modern information security, ensuring that data remains confidential and protected from authorized access. Here are the primary encryption methods and their uses:

1. Symmetric Encryption: Also known as secret key encryption, Symmetric encryption uses the same 'key' for encryption and decryption. A 'key' in encryption is a unique piece of information that is used to transform plain-text into ciphertext during encryption and vice versa during decryption. One of the key advantages of symmetric encryption, also known as secret key encryption, is its speed and efficiency. This makes it an ideal choice for encrypting large volumes of data, adding a practical edge to its security features. However, it's less secure than asymmetric encryption because a single key is used for both operations.

Use cases:
Data Storage: Encrypting files on your computer or a USB drive using a password often involves symmetric encryption. The same password is used for both encryption and decryption.

Secure Socket Layer(SSL) and Transport Layer Security(TSL):
These protocols use symmetric network encryption to protect data transmitted over the internet, such as during online banking transactions or when you log into a secure website.

Virtual Private Network: Many VPN services use symmetric encryption to secure data transmitted between your device and the VPN server, ensuring privacy and security while browsing the internet.

Disk Encryption: Whole-disk tools like BitLocker(Windows) and FileVault (macOS) use symmetric encryption to protect the entire contents of a hard drive or solid-state drive(SSD).

1. Asymmetric Encryption It always involves two keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. While asymmetric encryption may be slower due to the complexity of managing key pairs, its security benefits are worth the wait. The use of a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption adds an extra layer of assurance, making it more secure than symmetric encryption.

Use cases:

Secure Email Communication: Asymmetric encryption ensures that only the intended recipient can decrypt and read the email.

Digital Signatures: Authenticating messages or documents using digital signatures relies on asymmetric encryption.

Online Transactions: Asymmetric secures online transactions, such as credit card payments or online shopping.

Key Exchange: Asymmetric encryption uses secure key exchange during communication setup.

1. Hashing: Hashing is not encryption but an essential technique for data integrity and verification. Encryption is about making data unreadable to unauthorized parties, while hashing is about verifying the integrity of data without revealing the original data. It converts data (such as passwords) into fixed-length hash values. It converts data (such as passwords) into fixed-length hash values. Hashes are one-way functions, meaning you can not reverse them to obtain the original data.

Use Cases:
Password Storage: Hashing passwords before storing them in databases prevents exposure to plain-text passwords.

Data Integrity: Hashing ensures that data hasn't been tampered with. In other words, it verifies that the data has remained unchanged from its original form. This is crucial for maintaining the trustworthiness and reliability of data, especially in sensitive contexts like financial transactions or medical records.

Digital Signatures: Hashing is part of the process for creating digital signatures.

Remember that combining these methods strategically enhances overall security. For instance, SSL/TSL uses both symmetric and asymmetric encryption during secure communication. Understanding these encryption methods is not just about learning technical concepts, but also about protecting your sensitive information and ensuring a safer online experience. It empowers you to make informed decisions about your data security.

References:
1)https://networkinterview.com/difference-between-encryption-and-hashing/
2)https://www.newsoftwares.net/blog/how-to-encrypt-the-data-in-the-browser-console/
3)https://techtecno.com/encryption-101/
4)https://vectorlinux.com/how-does-encryption-prevent-a-hacker-from-getting-your-data/