Encryption is the process of scrambling data and information into a form which can only be decoded by parties who have the keys. This can be accomplished using many mathematic models and is used daily to safeguard the data and information business and consumers use in their daily lives.
Modern encryption algorithms are essential for ensuring the confidentiality of digital information stored on computers or transmitted through networks like the internet. It also provides security initiatives such as authentication (verifying a message’s source), integrity (ensuring that it hasn’t been altered) and non-repudiation (the ability to prove that an individual or company has sent a message).
Algorithms are used to convert plaintext into ciphertext. The encrypted text is only accessible using a decryption code which is an encrypted password or sequence of numbers that the sender as well as the recipient have agreed on. The more secure the encryption keys, the more difficult it is for third parties to crack the code using brute force methods.
Many privacy and security laws require strict encryption to ensure that personal information remains secure and private. Many businesses and individuals use encryption to secure their folders, files and entire PCs with software applications like 7-Zip or CertainSafe and they can also secure their entire hard drive in the cloud with virtual private networks. Additionally, many companies offer a range of encryption solutions that provide multiple kinds of encryption to provide the most secure protection.
