Articles on Web | Topics: web, internet
by Shani Miranda
Encryption is the process of hiding data or the contents of a message in a way that can only be recovered by using a corresponding decryption procedure. In cryptography, both encryption and decryption are very common techniques used to secure communications over the internet. There are a variety of encryption and decryption processes often called algorithms that are used. In cryptography, it's become very hard to keep the logic of algorithms confidential. Particularly, when online, it's usually easier to use a more popular public algorithm and to rely on an alternative form of security.
Cryptography uses a "key" which is a form of numbers in a long sequence of bits. The sequence of numbers is used by the encryption and decryption algorithms. As an example, the following sequence of numbers will act as a hypothetical 40 bit key: 000101 1101000001010 111001010 000001010101
An encrypted algorithm will take the original message with a key and alter the message numerically based on the bits in the key to create an entirely new encrypted message. Similarly, the decryption algorithm will take the encrypted message and reinstate it to the original form by using one or more keys. Sometimes there is one single private key that is used for both encryption and decryption. More often other algorithms use two keys, one for encryption and the other for decryption. In a case where there are two keys being used, one will be allowed to remain public, such as the encryption key, whereas the other remains private. Messages can not be read if the decryption key is not known. Basically, these keys provide the protection necessary when encrypting and decrypting communications online.
The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is used with current web browsers to secure online transactions, such as online banking, investing and e-commerce. The SSL encryption depends greatly on the keys by using a public key for the encryption process and a private key for the decryption process. Normally the strength or effectiveness of SSL encryption is measured by the key length and how many numbers of bits are in the key.
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The 40 bit encryption became too easy to decode, by the use of brute force, which is basically calculating every possible key one by one. In order to increase the strength and effectiveness of SSL encryption, the creators of web browsers increased the strength of encryption to 128 bit. This increase is for your added protection because the 128 bit is much harder and almost impossible to decode. Internet security professionals expect the 128 bit encryption to work effectively for at least another ten years.
Internet security is not all hype, it's very important to the online communities who use their computers for more than just playing games. Even if you only use your computer to send and receive email, it would be a good security measure to encrypt your email. If you encrypt your email so that only the intended recipients can read it, then that would prevent even the most dedicated hackers from intercepting your email and violating your privacy. There is also software available to enable you to digitally sign the email you send so that the recipients can verify who it's actually coming from.
When you encrypt your email, you will have two keys, a public key and a private key. This kind of encryption is called Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). With PKI, you are the only one who has use of your private key, while your public key is given to anyone of your choosing or you can also make it available to the public. If your friend wants to send you an email that is only meant for your eyes to see, your friend would encrypt it by using your public key. When you receive the message, you will have to use your private key to decrypt the message in order to read it. Without decrypting the message, it would only appear to be a series of numbers.
It's an important security measure to encrypt all of your email messages, not just the confidential ones or the one's containing your credit card information. Although encrypting every single email message that is sent through internet space may seem like a hassle, it really is the best thing to do for your own security.
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