Encryption is a process of converting plaintext or readable information into a scrambled code or ciphertext to protect it from unauthorized access. The ciphertext can only be decoded and read by someone who has the key to decrypt it.
There are various encryption algorithms that are used to encrypt information, including symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption.
Symmetric encryption uses a single key for both encryption and decryption. Examples of symmetric encryption algorithms include Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Data Encryption Standard (DES), and Triple DES (3DES).
Asymmetric encryption, also known as public-key cryptography, uses a pair of keys – a public key and a private key – for encryption and decryption. The public key is shared with others, while the private key is kept secret. Examples of asymmetric encryption algorithms include RSA and Diffie-Hellman.
Encryption is widely used to secure communications and protect data, such as in online banking transactions, email exchanges, and secure messaging. For example, when you access a website with HTTPS, your communication with the website is encrypted using SSL/TLS encryption. Similarly, when you send an encrypted email, your message is scrambled so that only the intended recipient with the private key can read it.
