What is Encryption and How Does it Work?

Encryptions: A closer look.

Recently, we've been hearing a lot about the word encryption. Many transaction mediums state their channel uses 128, 265-bit encryptions, and how secure they are. But before we dive into that topic we need to understand what does encryption means.

What is Encryption?

The core word in encryption refers to encrypt. Encryption can be stated as a methodology with which we convert plain information into a cipher. For example, suppose you want to send someone a secret message that "You love coffee" but don't want anyone else to read it, you can cipher which only be readable by the person you share your decrypting keys with. The internet is a wild place. There are people continuously trying to intercept personal messages, emails so that they can extort people. Here encryption plays a key role. Whenever you send a message, email, or information on anyone they're first encrypted before sending. Only the receiver with proper decrypting cipher can decode that cipher.

Many types of encryptions are available like 128-256 bit AES encryption, Blowfish, RC4 RC5 RC6, Twofish, and many more. AES encryption serves as a base technology for SSL and TLS. Amongst these encryptions, AES is the most widely used one. Let us take a look at AES(Advanced Encryption Standard).

Encryptions offer standard security so that even if someone intercepts any information encoded with 128-bit encryption it will take them one billion billion years to break the cipher. Yes! You read that right! It's not a typo its one billion billion years to break it just by using brute-force. This happens because the number of combinations 128 bit AES encryption uses. Now, this doesn't mean that you're completely protected because an attacker still intercepts the information before it is encrypted. This indicates that we need to step up the application security testing game.

How Does it Work?

Primarily, there are two kinds of encryption, Symmetric and Asymmetric. In symmetric encryption, there is a single key in which all communication channels and they all use the same key for encryption as well as decryption. In the asymmetric kind, two keys are used i.e. one for encryption and one for decryption. Once the data is encrypted, the communication channels perform handshakes and share acknowledgment for conforming to the packet exchange. The channel with the decryption key can only decrypt the data. One key is publicly shared for the usage of the masses hence its called a public key and the other key is kept private.

We use these encryptions in our daily lives. The WhatsApp uses a 128-bit end-to-end encryption standard. That means messages are encrypted on both the sender and receiver sides. Without encryptions, the modern-day internet cannot be imagined.

If you have developed an app that relies heavily on encryptions, it'd be better if you get it tested. We can help you with application security testing.

For further details reach out to us at contact@nexixsecuritylabs.com

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