Difference Between Encryption and Decryption

Cryptography is the study of secure communication techniques that allow only the sender and intended recipient of a message to view its contents.

 

Furthermore, cryptography includes the obfuscation of information in images through the use of techniques such as microdots or merging. Encrypting and decrypting email and other plain-text messages is the most common use of cryptography when transmitting electronic data. 

 

The most fundamental method is the symmetric or "secret key" system. In this case, data is encrypted with a secret key, and both the encoded message and the secret key are then sent to the recipient for decryption. 

 

If the message is intercepted, a third party has all the necessary information to decrypt and read it. To address this issue, cryptologists devised the asymmetric or "public key" system. Senders request the recipient's public key, encrypt the message, and send it on. In this blog we will learn what encryption and decryption are and what makes them different. 

 

 

What is Encryption?

 

Encryption is a method of scrambling data so that it can only be deciphered by authorized parties. In technical terms, it is the process of converting human-readable plaintext to incomprehensible text, also known as ciphertext. 

 

In a nutshell, encryption modifies readable data so that it appears random. The use of a cryptographic key, which is a set of mathematical values agreed upon by both the sender and the recipient of an encrypted message, is required for encryption.

 

Although encrypted data appears to be random, encryption occurs in a logical, predictable manner, allowing a party who receives the encrypted data and has the correct key to decrypt it, converting it back to plaintext. 

 

True secure encryption will employ keys that are complex enough that a third party extremely unlikely to decrypt or break the ciphertext using brute force — that is, guessing the key.Data can be encrypted "at rest," when it is being stored, or "in transit," when it is being transmitted to another location.

 

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Encrypting Tools

 

1. LastPass

 

LastPass, arguably one of the most popular password manager tools available, can be used for free with limited features while still securing your passwords and personal data. You won't have to remember or write down a password in a notebook or any other physical location if you use encryption software like this one.

 

LastPass has an easy-to-use and intuitive interface that can help you simplify things. Sticky Password and RoboForm are two other password management tools that have an intuitive and easy-to-use interface and can provide good password security. When possible, use a two-factor authentication system.

 

2. BitLocker

 

While there are numerous encryption tools available for encrypting your data locally, most users prefer Microsoft's BitLocker software. BitLocker is a full-disk encryption tool built into the most recent Windows operating systems (Windows 10), which encrypts data on drives using AES (128 and 256-bit) encryption.

 

However, because it is an encryption technology built into Microsoft, it has become a target for researchers looking for flaws in widely used tools.

 

As a result, a researcher was able to discover a new and relatively simple method for sniffing Windows BitLocker encryption keys as they travel from Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs) during boot."

 

Also Read | Cybersecurity Mesh

 

What is Decryption?

 

Decryption is a Cybersecurity technique that makes it more difficult for hackers to intercept and read data that they are not authorized to read. It is the process of converting encrypted or encoded data or text back to its original plain format, which can be read and understood by computer applications. 

 

This is the inverse of encryption, which requires coding data to make it unreadable to everyone except those who have matching Decryption keys. Although encryption protects the data, recipients must have the necessary decryption or decoding tools to access the original data. 

 

Decryption is the process of decrypting data, which can be accomplished manually, automatically, or by employing the best Decryption software, unique keys, passwords, or codes. 

 

This converts unreadable or unintelligible data into original text files, e-mail messages, images, user data, and directories that users and computer systems can read and interpret.

 

Example, Assume that 2 x = y; then the function's key has been established, and all possible values of x and y can be mapped. In a nutshell, this is what happens during decryption. The example shown is one that could be easily solved using "bruteforce" methods.

 

Also Read | What is Data Security?

 

Types of Encryption and Decryption

 

1. Triple DES

 

Triple DES was developed to replace the original Data Encryption Standard (DES) algorithm, which hackers gradually learned to defeat. Triple DES makes use of three separate 56-bit keys. 

 

Despite being phased out gradually, Triple DES continues to provide secure hardware encryption and decryption solutions for the financial services and other industries.

 

A more modern version of 3DES is a block cypher that is still in use today. The Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES) does exactly what the name implies. The disadvantage of 3DES is that it takes longer to encrypt data.

 

2. RSA

 

RSA Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (RSA) encryption is an asymmetric cypher that uses two keys for encryption and decryption. It is considered one of the strongest encryption types due to its larger key size.

 

It is a standard for encrypting data sent over networks that employs a public-key encryption-decryption algorithm. It is also one of the methods used in our PGP and GPG programmes. When compared to Triple DES, RSA is considered an asymmetric algorithm due to its use of a pair of keys.

 

You have a public key that we use to encrypt our message and a private key that we use to decrypt it. Due to the length of the keys, RSA presents a significant challenge to hackers when compared to other types of encryption.

 

3. AES

 

The Advanced Encryption Standard is another symmetric encryption algorithm that employs the Rijndael algorithm (AES). It encrypts one fixed-size block at a time using block cypher.

 

It is highly efficient in 128-bit form, and for heavy-duty data encryption, AES also uses 192 and 256-bit keys. AES is thought to be resistant to all attacks, with the exception of brute force, which attempts to decode messages using all possible combinations of 128, 192, or 256-bit cryptosystems.. 

 

Nonetheless, Cyber Security experts believe that AES will eventually be recognised as a de facto standard for data encryption in the private sector.

 

4. Blowfish

 

When encrypting and decrypting, blowfish is a block cypher that divides data or a message into fixed 64-bit blocks. It was designed to be quick and is freely available to all users as public encryption software.

 

Blowfish is another algorithm that was developed to replace DES. This symmetric cypher divides messages into 64-bit blocks and encrypts each one separately. 

 

Blowfish is well-known for its incredible speed and overall performance, with many claiming that it has never been defeated. Meanwhile, vendors have taken advantage of its free availability in the public domain.

 

5. Twofish

 

Blowfish and his successor Twofish were created by computer security expert Bruce Schneier. As a symmetrical technique, the keys used for this algorithm can be up to 256 bits long, with only one key required.

 

It allows you to choose the encryption process to be quick while the key setup to be slow and vice versa. Twofish is one of the fastest of its kind and can be used in both hardware and software environments. Twofish, like Blowfish, is freely available to anyone who wants to use it.

 

6. FPE

 

Format Preserving Encryption is a relatively new encryption method (FPE). It encrypts your data in a similar format. It's widely used in financial database systems, banking systems, retail, and a variety of other applications.

 

Encryption vs Decryption

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Encryption vs Decryption

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What exactly makes Encryption and Decryption different from each other? We’ve listed some points for the same below. 

 

1. Encryption is the process of converting plain text into coded text that appears to be meaningless, also known as cypher text. 

 

Decryption, on the other hand, is the process of converting ciphertext to plaintext. Let's look at the main difference between encryption and decryption.

 

2. When data is sent between two machines, it is automatically encrypted with a secret key. The data receiver automatically converts the data from the codes back to its original form.

 

3. When a machine sends data, it automatically encrypts it at the source. Before sending the data, pre-installed programmes convert it to an encrypted format. 

 

Decryption takes place on the destination machine. The machine receives the encrypted data and converts it to its original form.

 

4. Its main purpose is to convert plain text to cypher text. While its primary purpose is to convert cypher text to plain text.

 

5. Encryption The MAC Address ensures that the physical address of the computer is unique. In decryption, IP Address is the logical address of a computer that is used to uniquely locate computers connected via a network.

 

6. The same algorithm and key are used in the encryption and decryption processes. For encryption and decryption, a single algorithm is used, along with a pair of keys, one for encryption and one for decryption.

 

7. To convert easily understandable and human-decipherable messages into a non-decipherable and obscure form that is nearly impossible to interpret in encryption. Decryption is the process of converting an illegible message into a human-readable format.

 

8. Any message can be encrypted using either the secret key or the public key. The encrypted message, on the other hand, can be decrypted using either the secret key or the private key.

 

9. The sender sends data to the receiver after encrypting it with a secret or public key. The receiver receives encrypted data and decrypts it with a secret or private key.

 

10. In encryption, the process of converting human-readable messages into an incomprehensible and obscure form that cannot be interpreted. Decryption is the conversion of an obscure message into an understandable form that a human can understand.

 

11. Encryption and decryption are inextricably linked and are regarded as the cornerstones of ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. 

 

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Key Types of Encryption VS Decryption

 

Encryption and decryption are inextricably linked and are regarded as the pillars of data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

 

• Asymmetric Key – This term refers to algorithms that use two pairs of keys to encrypt data. The public key is available to anyone, whereas the secret key is only available to the message's receiver.

 

• Public Key – It is an asymmetric encryption system that employs two key pairs. The public keys are used to encrypt data or messages before they are sent to a recipient.

 

• Private Key – It is a component of the key's asymmetric pair of public and private keys. Because the same key is used to encrypt and decrypt data, this key is used in asymmetric encryption.

 

• Pre-Shared Key – It is a shared secret that must first be shared between two parties via a secure channel before it can be used.

 

Cryptology, which is a combination of cryptography and cryptanalysis, encompasses the encryption and decryption processes. Cryptography is concerned with the techniques for ensuring security by encoding messages in order to render them unreadable. 

 

Cryptanalysis is the process of converting an unintelligible message to an intelligible message. Encryption is used at the sender end to encipher the content before sending it over the network, whereas decryption is used at the receiver end to decipher the scrambled meaningless content.