The technology of Encryption: types, functions, and why you need this

encryption

Encryption is a secular science that uses data encryption to scramble information so that only those who hold the key to decrypt the data have access to the original information.

Encryption is increasingly being adopted as a security measure, and still generates a lot of curiosity for those who do not know it. 

The increase in use is mainly due to the recent cases of data leakage that raised the alarm of the need to increase security with the collected information stored on the internet.

When you hear about cryptography, you must imagine something very complex that only technical experts understand. In reality, it is not that complicated and we will show you that in this post. Check it out!

What is encryption?

Cryptography is a set of techniques designed to protect information that is exchanged in the virtual environment so that only the sender and receiver can understand.

This system reinforces the security of a message or file by “shuffling” its content. This scrambling takes place through mathematical algorithms that encode user data so that only the recipient can read it. 

That's why encryption is one of the safest ways to protect the privacy of your data on the internet, as it hides information through codes. In this way, the sender and receiver need keys to decrypt the data. 

And the only way to access the cryptographic key is through one of the computers used in the communication: the sender or the receiver. 

Know now what are the 5 main types of encryption exist to protect data.

1. DES

Data Encryption Standard (DES) is one of the first encryptions used and is considered basic protection with few bits (about 56). Its algorithm is the most widespread worldwide and performs 16 encryption cycles to protect information.

The complexity and size of encryption keys are measured in bits. When encryption is done with 128 bits, it means that 2128 is the number of possible keys to decrypt it. Currently, this number of bits is considered secure, but the higher the number, the higher the security.

When we say that a block has been encrypted in bits, it means that a set of information has gone through the same process as the key, making it unreadable for third parties.

DES can be decrypted with the brute force technique (the program tests the key possibilities automatically for hours). For this reason, developers need to look for more complex protection alternatives besides DES.

2. 3DES

Triple DES was originally developed to replace DES, as hackers learned to overcome it relatively easily. There was a time when 3DES was the recommended standard for security.

This encryption gets its name because it works with three keys of 56 bits each, which generates a key with a total of 168 bits. Experts on the subject argue that a 112-bit key is sufficient to protect data.

3. DESX

This is another variant of DES and it is a very simple solution of the algorithm, but which exponentially increases resistance against brute force attacks without increasing its computational complexity.

64 bits are added before encryption, which increases the 120-bit protection against brute force. Currently, this technology is no longer immune against more sophisticated attacks such as cryptanalysis (the program evolves with each decryption attempt).

4. AES

Advanced Encryption Standard  (AES) is the standard algorithm of the United States government and several other organizations. It is reliable and exceptionally efficient in its 128-bit form, but you can also use 192-bit and 256-bit keys for information that needs greater protection.

AES is widely considered to be immune to all attacks except brute force attacks, which try to crack code in every possible combination at 128, 192, and 256 bits, which is immensely difficult these days.

5. Blowfish

This is another algorithm designed to replace DES. It is a symmetric cipher that divides information into 64-bit blocks and encrypts each one individually.

Blowfish is known for its encryption speed and overall effectiveness. It is a very secure technology, as there are scholars on the subject who claim that the code cannot be broken.

It is completely free, and anyone can get a copy of its source code, change it and use it in different programs. In general, Blowfish is used in e-commerce platforms to ensure payment security and protect users' passwords.

Why do we need encryption?

The great need to use encryption is in protecting the user's identity and data. In the event of an intrusion attempt, the encryption system protects all important information: both the users' data and the contents of files and messages exchanged.

Taking into account the recent cases of data leakage that have promoted real scandals on the internet, the importance of using encryption becomes evident. As a security measure in the corporate scenario.

However, users are also exposed to the home environment. These days, we are constantly looking for or sharing information online, which is why our data is being stored somewhere. 

In many cases, it is not possible to be sure whether the storage environment is secure. Therefore, it is also important to protect yourself with encryption and increase your security and privacy at home.

Why use encryption

If you've read everything so far, you probably already understand what encryption is and why it's important. However, it may still not be clear why to use this type of protection on your data, after all, you don't deal with sensitive information on a large scale. 

If this is your case, here are the main reasons for you to start using encryption from now on:

1. Protect your email information

We currently resolve any issues via email. If it is common in your daily life to send sensitive information, such as a credit card number, personal data, or any other type of data, using encryption can represent a good additional layer of security. 

By encrypting, the data is accessible only to the recipient, who will have access to the key to decode the contents.

2. Protect data stored in the clouds

Due to practicality, many users store files on online services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud, for example. 

However, what few know is that there is also exposure to invaders. It is common to see cases of files leaked from cloud storage services, such as the cases of intimate photos of celebrities leaked in 2014.

To increase your security and guarantee the privacy of files stored in this type of environment, you can turn to services that encrypt data, such as SpiderOak, TeamDrive, Tresorit, and Mega. Also, good internet providers help protect data.

3. Protect files from unauthorized access

In the same way that when your smartphone is lost/stolen, you can remotely erase all your data, it is also important to have this protection with your computer.  

You don't need to block access to all your files stored on your PC, but you do need to do so with sensitive data to stay protected.

That way, if you ever lose your computer, the biggest loss will be the financial one, but no one will have access to your data. 

It is worth remembering that by protecting your data with encryption on your computer, you prevent any unauthorized person from having access to your content.

4. Protect browsing data

An important piece of information that few people know is that when using Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet, you are more exposed to interception, which can result in credentials or other sensitive user data being stolen. 

This is why many websites use a protocol called HTTPS (Security Certificate) to encrypt data that is being sent between websites. 

While this is not necessarily a guarantee, the risks are reduced as the information transmitted can only be decoded by the website to which it was sent.

However, to be safe, the best way out is to resort to encrypted browsing. You can use a virtual private network (VPN) or even use Tor. These features create encrypted connection “tunnels” to allow you to browse the internet without being monitored.

Encryption of financial records can help secure payment processes

Payment tokenization and data encryption are examples of security technologies that are strong and play important roles in limiting the current cyberattacks and information theft that take place in the digital marketplace.

Tokenization technology, for example, replaces sensitive information — such as a credit card number — with a meaningless value or “token” that can be stored in a database. It usually has the same format so that it remains compatible with current card processing systems.

Encryption goes further, keeping all information out of business systems. After all, the chain of transactions from the terminal to the bank is fully encrypted. 

Thus, when a customer enters their payment details, or an employee swipes a credit card through a terminal, they are encrypted. After that, they can only be opened with the use of a key.

Data tokenization and encryption are valuable tools in protecting sensitive card transaction data. These are solutions that, when implemented efficiently, can provide the highest level of confidentiality in financial transactions and the submission of personal information.

Conclusion

The recent rise in the number of transaction fraud and data leakage has made cryptography gain traction. After all, when associated with a secure internet, such as Centurylink internet, you can avoid disastrous consequences and personal exposure.

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