Encryption is the process of scrambling data and information into a format which can only be decoded by parties who hold the keys. This can be accomplished using an array of mathematical models and is used every day to protect the data and information that users and businesses use in their daily lives.
Modern encryption algorithms are crucial to protect the confidentiality of digital information stored on computers or transmitted via networks like the internet. It also facilitates security measures such as authentication (verifying the origin of a message) as well as integrity (ensuring that it has not been altered) and non-repudiation (the ability to prove that a person or company has sent a message).
The encryption process converts plaintext that is readable by humans into a encoded format, referred to as ciphertext using algorithms, mathematical models. The encrypted ciphertext can only be converted back into plaintext by using a decryption keys, which is a secret string of numbers or passwords that the sender and recipient agree upon. The more secure the cryptographic keys, the more difficult it is for third-party hackers to decipher through brute force methods such as trying every possible string of characters.
Many privacy and security laws require a strong encryption in order to ensure that private data remains private and secure. Many people and businesses use encryption to protect their files, folders, and entire PCs with software applications such as 7-Zip and CertainSafe, and they can also encrypt their entire hard drive into the cloud using virtual private networks. Additionally, many companies offer a range of encryption solutions that provide multiple kinds of encryption to provide the most robust protection possible.