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Encryption is an important privacy tool when you are sendingsensitive, confidential, or personal information across the Internet.

Encryption scrambles plain text into a type of secret code thathackers, cybercriminals, and other online snoops can't read, even if theyintercept it before it reaches its intended recipients. When the message doesget to its recipients, they have their own key to unscramble the informationback into plain, readable text.

Encryption, then, can help protect the data you send, receive andstore using a device. That can include text messages stored on your smartphone, running logs saved on your fitness watch, and banking information sent throughyour online account.

Encryption is a process that scrambles readable text so it canonly be read by the person who has the secret code, or decryption key. It helpsprovide data security for sensitive information.

Vast amounts of personal information are managed online and storedin thecloud or on servers with an ongoing connection to the web. Its nearlyimpossible to do business of any kind without your personal data ending up inan organizations networked computer system, which is why its important to knowhow to help keep that data private.

Encryption plays an essential role in this task.

Encryption takes plain text, like a text message or email, andscrambles it into an unreadable format called cipher text. This helpsprotect the confidentiality of digital data either stored on computer systemsor transmitted through a network like the Internet.

When the intended recipient accesses the message, the informationis translated back to its original form. This is called decryption.

To unlock the message, both the sender and the recipient have touse a secret encryption key a collection of algorithms that scramble andunscramble data back to a readable format.

An encryption key is a series of numbers used to encrypt anddecrypt data. Encryption keys are created with algorithms. Each key is randomand unique.

There are two main types of encryption systems: symmetricencryption and asymmetric encryption. Heres how theyre different.

An encryption algorithm is the set of rules, usually governing acomputer or other tech device such as a smart phone, that turns readable datainto scrambled cipher text.

The data scrambled by these algorithms look like randomized code.But the algorithms configure this scrambled data in a purposeful way so that itcan easily be turned back into a readable format by a decryption key.

There are several types of encryption, some stronger than others.Here are the most common examples of encryption.

Data Encryption Standard is considered a low-level encryptionstandard. The U.S. government established the standard in 1977. Because ofadvances in technology and decreases in the cost of hardware, DES isessentially obsolete for protecting sensitive data.

Triple DES runs DES encryption three times. It encrypts, decryptsand encrypts data thus, triple. It strengthens the original DES standard,which is now viewed by security experts as being too weak for sensitive data.

RSA takes its name from the familial initials of three computerscientists. It uses a strong and popular algorithm for encryption. RSA ispopular because of its key length and, therefore, widely used for secure datatransmission.

Advanced Encryption Standard is the U.S. government standard as of2002. AES is used worldwide.

TwoFish is considered one of the fastest encryption algorithms andis free for anyone to use. Its used in hardware and software.

Most legitimate websites use the encryption protection calledsecure sockets layer (SSL), which is a form of encrypting data that is sentto and from a website. This keeps attackers from accessing that data while itis in transit.

Want to make sure a site is using this technology? Look for thepadlock icon in the URL bar, and the s in the https://. If you see thesesigns, you'll know that you are conducting secure, encrypted transactionsonline.

Its a good idea to access sites using SSL when:

Why is encryption important? Here are three reasons:

Encryption helps protect your online privacy by turning personalinformation into for your eyes only messages intended only for the partiesthat need them and no one else.

You should make sure that your emails are being sent over anencrypted connection, or that you are encrypting each message.

Most email clients come with the option for encryption in theirSettings menu. If you check your email with a web browser, take a moment toensure that SSL encryption is available.

Cybercrime is a global business, often run by multinationaloutfits.

Many of the large-scale data breaches that you may have heardabout in the news demonstrate that cybercriminals are often out to stealpersonal information for financial gain.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)requires healthcare providers to implement security features that help protectpatients sensitive health information online.

Institutions of higher learning must take similar steps under theFamily Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to protect student records.

Retailers must contend with the Fair Credit Practices Act (FCPA)and similar laws that help protect consumers.

Encryption helps businesses stay compliant with regulatoryrequirements and standards. It also helps protect the valuable data of theircustomers.

Encryption is designed to protect your data, but encryption canalso be used against you.

Targeted ransomware is a cybercrime that can impact organizations of all sizes,including government offices. Ransomware can also target individual computerusers.

How do ransomware attacks occur? Attackers deploy ransomware toencrypt the various devices, including computers and servers, of victims. Theattackers often demand a ransom before they will provide a key to decrypt theencrypted data. The goal is to persuade victims to pay out as a way to recoveraccess to their important files, data, video and images.

Ransomware attacks against government agencies can shut downservices, making it hard to get a permit, obtain a marriage license, or pay atax bill, for instance.

Ransomware attacks aimed at large organizations and governmentagencies tend to generate the biggest headlines. But ransomware attacks canalso happen to you.

Here are some tips to help protect your devices against ransomwareattacks and the risk of having your data encrypted andinaccessible.

Encryption is essential to help protect your sensitive personalinformation. But in the case of ransomware attacks, it can be used against you.Its smart to take steps to help you gain the benefits and avoid the harm.

Its important to encrypt the messages,files and data that you send whenever they are personal, sensitive orclassified. You dont want hackers intercepting your emails to your doctor ifyou are sending information about an illness. You dont want criminals toccess your financial information after you log into your online bank account.And you dont want scammers to snag that confidential report you are reviewingfor your employer. Its important to encrypt all this data to keep it secret.

There are several encryption methods that are consideredeffective. Advanced Encryption Standard, better known as AES, though, is apopular choice among those who want to protect their data and messages. Thisform of encryption has been the U.S. government standard as of 2002. AES isused worldwide.

See the rest here:
What Is Encryption? | Definition + How It Works | Norton

Encryption helps us to secure data that we send, receive, and store. It can consist text messages saved on our cell-phone, logs stored on our fitness watch, and details of banking sent by your online account.

It is the way that can climb readable words so that the individual who has the secret access code, or decryption key can easily read it. For diplomatic information to help in providing data security.

A large volume of personal information is handled electronically and maintained in the cloud or on servers connected to the web on an ongoing basis. Without our distinctive data bending up in the networked systematic system of a company, it's almost not possible to go on with the business of any, which is why it is crucial to know how to help in keeping the information private.

It is the procedure of taking ordinary text, such as a text or email, and climbing it into an unreadable type of format known as "cipher text." It helps to protect the digital information either saved on or spread through a network such as the internet on computer systems.

The cipher text is converted back to the real form when the calculated recipient accesses the message which is known as decryption.

"Secret" encryption key, a lining up of algorithms that climbed and unscramble info. back to a readable type, must be worked by both the sender and the receiver to get the code.

The sequence of numbers used to encrypt and decrypt data is an encryption key. Algorithms are used to construct encryption keys. It's random and special to each key.

Symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption are two kinds of encryption schemes. Here's how distinct they are.

There are various types of encryption, and every encryption type is created as per the needs of the professionals and keeping the security specifications in mind. The most common encryption types are as follows.

The Data Encryption Standard is example of a low-level encryption. In 1977, the U.S. government set up the standard. DES is largely redundant for securing confidential data due to advancements in technology and reductions in hardware costs.

The Triple DES works 3* times the encryption of DES. It means, it first encrypts the data, decrypts the data, and again encrypt the data. It improves the original DES standard, which for sensitive data has been considered too poor a form of encryption.

The RSA holds its name from three computer scientists' ancestral initials. For encryption, it utilises a powerful and common algorithm. Because of its main length, RSA is common and thus commonly used for safe data transmission.

The U.S. government norm as of 2002 is the Advanced Encryption Standard. Worldwide, AES is used.

The Two-fish is exampled as one of the quick encryption algorithms and is of no-cost for anyone to use. It is usable in hardware and software.

Most legally sites use very known as "secure sockets layer" (SSL), which, when sent to and from a website, is a procedure of encrypting data. It prevents attackers from accessing the information when it is in transit.

To confirm that we practice safe the encrypted online transactions, search the padlock icon in URL bar and the "s" in the "https".

Accessing sites using SSL is a good idea if:

There are following reasons to use the encryption in our day-to-day life. That are:

Encryption helps protect our privacy online by translating sensitive information into messages "only for your eyes" intended only for the parties who need them, and no one else.

We should make sure our emails sent over an encrypted network, or either message must be in an encrypted format.

In their Settings menu, most email clients come with the encryption option and if we check our email with a web browser, take a moment to ensure that SSL encryption is available.

Cybercrime, mostly managed by international corporations, is a global sector. Many of the large-scale thefts of data we might have read about in the news show that cybercriminals are indeed out for financial gain to steal personal information.

The Portability and Transparency Act for Health Insurance (HIPAA) allows healthcare providers to incorporate safety features that help secure online confidential health information for patients.

The Fair Credit Practices Act (FCPA) and related regulations that help protect customers must be enforced by retailers.

Encryption allows companies to remain consistent with regulatory guidelines and specifications. It also helps secure their clients' valuable data.

How ransomware uses encryption to commit cybercrimes?

Encryption is intended to secure our data, but it is also possible to use encryption against us.

Targeted ransomware, for example, is a cybercrime that can impact organisations, including government agencies, of all sizes. Also, ransomware can attack individual users of computers.

How do attacks involving ransomware occur?

In order to attempt to encrypted different devices, including computers and servers, attackers deploy ransomware. Until they give a key to decrypt the encrypted data, the attackers also demand a ransom. Ransomware attacks on government departments can shut down facilities, making it impossible, for example, to obtain a permit, obtain a marriage licence, or pay a tax bill.

Targeted attacks mostly target large organisations, but we can also experience ransomware attacks.

Some ways we must always keep in our mind to be safe from such attacks.

Consider making use of cloud resources. It can help to prevent a ransomware infection, since previous versions of files are maintained by several cloud providers, enabling us to 'roll back' to the unencrypted type.

Don't pay any ransom. In the hope of getting our files back, we might pay a ransom, but we might not get them back. There's no assurance that our data will be released by cybercriminals.

To help protect our confidential personal details, encryption is important. But it can be used against us in the event of ransomware attacks. Taking steps to help us reap the benefits and prevent the damage is wise.

With the support of a key, an algorithm, a decoder or something similar, the intended recipient of the encrypted data will decrypt it. If the data and the encryption process are in the digital domain, the intended user may use the necessary decryption tool to access the information they need.

For decryption purposes, the item used can be referred to as the key, cipher or algorithm. We will find specific details about each of them below.

Cipher: The word cipher refers to an algorithm primarily used for the purposes of encryption. A cipher consists of a series of successive steps at the end of which it decrypts the encrypted information. Two major types of ciphers exist: stream ciphers and block ciphers.

Algorithm: The processes that are followed by the encryption processes are algorithms. There are various types of algorithms that are explicitly used to decrypt encrypted files and data: some of these types include blowfish, triple DES and RSA. In addition to algorithms and ciphers, it is possible to use brute force to decode an encoded text.

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What is Encryption - Javatpoint