Symmetric Key encryption
* Algorithm. (a precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve some problem).
In simple and laymanâs terms, Encryption refers to taking a file or message and converting (ciphering) in such a manner that âONLY the person with deciphering/matching elementâ can open and read the content of the file or message.
Origianal File â¦â¦..> Encryptionâ¦â¦â¦..> Decryptionâ¦â¦.Original File.
Original Text Encrypted text using Blowfish algorithm Decrypted text using Blowfish decryption Algorithm.
Types of encryption:
Not going in to the Technical jargon of Cryptographic Algorithms, Block Cipher, Stream Cipher, Hashing etc.,
There are two basic techniques for encrypting information: Symmetric encryption (also called secret key encryption) and Asymmetric encryption (also called public key encryption.)
In conventional Symmetric encryption a single key is used. With this key, the sender can encrypt a message and a recipient can decrypt the message but the security of the key becomes problematic. Examples are DES, 3DES, Twofish, AES, Blowfish, RC4, CAST5.
Symmetric Encryption can be Stream or Block ciphers. Stream ciphers encrypt the bits of the message one at a time, and block ciphers take a number of bits and encrypt them as a single unit. Blocks of 64 bits have been commonly used. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm approved by NIST uses 128-bit blocks.
The U.S. Government requires 192 or 256-bit AES keys for highly sensitive data.
In Asymmetric encryption, the encryption key and the decryption key are different. One is a public key by which the sender can encrypt the message and the other is a private key by which a recipient can decrypt the message. Asymmetric cryptography is typically slower to execute electronically than symmetric cryptography.
Examples of Asymmetric Encryption are RSA, Diffie-Hellman, Digital Signature Algorithm, EIGamal, etc.
In cryptography, key size or key length is the size measured in bits of the key. The greater the key size or key length the more complex algorithm and hence more secured the data or content.
RSA Security claims that 1024-bit RSA keys are equivalent in strength to 80-bit symmetric keys, 2048-bit RSA keys to 112-bit symmetric keys and 3072-bit RSA keys to 128-bit symmetric keys. RSA claims that 1024-bit keys are likely to become crackable some time between 2006 and 2010 and that 2048-bit keys are sufficient until 2030. An RSA key length of 3072 bits should be used if security is required beyond 2030.
âTo Encrypt or Not to Encryptâ? Thatâs the question arising to Network and Security managers as well as individuals that desire to send and receive files, data or emails, so that âNO one elseâ is able to read the contents of the message sent and received. Some Applications for Encryption range from:
* Secure communication, e.g., via telephone, email, Network servers (VPN) and Wireless Networks
Objective: confidentiality and integrity of transmitted information.
* Database: Secured Database accessed via LAN (Local area Network) or WAN (Wide Area Network)
* Internet banking.
Objectives: confidentiality of transactions and account information, prevention of false transactions,
impossibility of repudiating (denying) a transaction by a user i.e. in a Digital payment systems.
Whether you're a business person who needs to email credit card and other sensitive financial information to colleagues, a business owner who wants to ensure that planning and financial data will never be viewed by competitors, or a home user who needs to communicate privately with other family members, Encryption is the next generation Application to keep your Files, Folders, emails, Network server connection, Banking, ATM transactions and Wireless more secured and confidential.
Author: Swapan Nandy
Principal
ANDLogic Computers
866 Route 33 Suite 6
Hamilton
NJ 08619
www.andlogiccomputers.net
snandy@andlogiccomputers.net Add a Comment Back to All Articles
