Asymmetric Encryption: What It Means And How It Is Used In Cryptography

Asymmetric encryption is the opposite of symmetric encryption in cryptography. In security information transmission and security, symmetric encryption uses a single key to encrypt and decrypt data while asymmetric encryption involves one public and one private key for the purpose. In this article, we will dive into the details of asymmetric encryption, its uses, and its advantages in cryptography.

Understanding the Asymmetric Encryption Process

Asymmetric encryption or public-key cryptography is a way of encrypting data using a pair of keys. There is a public key that can be shared with anyone and a private key that the owner keeps. The two non-identical yet mathematically linked keys shown in the concept below illustrate the idea of asymmetrical encryption. 

The sender has the recipient’s public key to encrypt data and the recipient then uses their private key to decrypt the data. This means that anyone can encrypt the message using a public key but only the owner of the private key can decrypt it. This keeps the communication safe from the third party, so anyone who holds the public key can send a secure message.

This process is responsible for secure communication without the need for the same key for involved parties. 

What are the Advantages of Asymmetrical Encryption

Asymmetrical keys are the base of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The separate keys to lock the plaintext and unlock the cyphertext are individual performers, which means neither of the keys can work both ways.

This is the latest yet safer method of encryption and has many advantages over symmetrical encryptions.

Improved Security: The need for two keys and keeping one key private makes the information transmission safe as compared to the symmetrical methods. The private key is only for decryption and is used by the receiver making the hacking attacks harder to work.

Non-Repudiation: One of the most significant advantages of asymmetrical keys is the sender of the message can not deny the sending or change of the message as the message is coded by the sender’s private key which is not accessible by anyone. This message is only decrypted by the sender’s public key so it gives a signature identification and the receiver can make sure that the message is not tampered with.

Authentication: Asymmetrical encryption authenticates the message because both sender and receiver have the respective keys to lock and unlock the message and there is no chance of interception by any third party.

Versatile: In today’s online world when everything is possible through the internet, asymmetrical keys can be used as a safer means of data transmission in not only communication but also in online banking transactions, e-commerce, and securing SSL/TSL connections (used to secure internet traffic).

These advantages make asymmetrical encryption a more dominant means of security in today’s world. The use of asymmetric encryption tools in technology keeps the information safe from hackers, and this is the same tech used in TV shows like “Mr. Robot,” to protect encryptions from hacking. 

 What Are the Uses of Asymmetric Encryption In Daily Life?

Daily Online Communications: 

One of the most popular uses of asymmetrical encryption is used in daily online communication such as emails and messages. The protocols such as Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) and Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) use asymmetrical encryption to secure emails. The easier way to understand how this communication works is by the following example.

Suppose, Ginny is encrypting an email for John using John’s public key and sends him an email. John will use his private key to decrypt the email and read it. In this way, the content of the email is between the sender and receiver so that no one else can read or change the message.

Digital Signature: 

Now that the world relies on the internet for all kinds of activities, signing and sharing important documents has also become a usual practice. Asymmetrical encryption tools are used in Adobe Sign and  Docusign to authenticate the signature of an individual. When someone signs a digital document, their private key creates a unique signature that can not be used by anyone else. The recipient however can verify the document’s authenticity by using the sender’s public key. In this way, asymmetrical cryptography identifies that the documents are not tampered with.

To Secure Data Transmission:

A bulk of data is transmitted between the browser and the website every day. Asymmetrical encryption keeps that data secure by playing a  role in the Secure Socket layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS). You may have encountered these terms while reading a webpage or software’s privacy policy. This process actually combines both asymmetrical and symmetrical encryption. At first, AE is used to secure the symmetrical key exchange which is used to encrypt and decrypt data. In this way, the communication becomes secure as well as speedy because asymmetrical encryption alone can be slow for large amounts of data. 

Final Analysis

Encryption is one of the key aspects of cybersecurity because the presence of personal data online needs constant protection. Therefore, it is very important to take the necessary measures to keep the information protected.  There are advantages and disadvantages to both symmetrical and asymmetrical cryptography but overall asymmetrical encryption makes the communication and data exchange more secure.

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