3.1.2
Encryption
Encryption
Encryption
If sensitive data is going to be transferred, then it is important that we keep it secure from third parties.
Encryption
Encryption
- Encrypting data is the process of scrambling data according to a specific algorithm so that it cannot be read by third parties.
- Only the intended recipient will know how to decode the data.
Keys
Keys
- A lot of encryption depends upon secret keys, which are shared secret pieces of data.
- Keys are made up of a pair of very large prime numbers, either 256 or 1,024 bits long.
- It would take an impractical amount of time to guess the key. So we say that the encryption is secure.
Wireless communication
Wireless communication
- It is especially important to encrypt wireless communication.
- Protocols exist for wireless communication, such as WiFi Protected Access version 2 (WPA2), which encrypt all traffic.
Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption
Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption
The use of encryption is vital to protect our private information. One type of encryption is symmetric encryption.
Symmetric encryption
Symmetric encryption
- Symmetric or private key encryption is used to encrypt data for transmission.
- A private key is used to convert plain text into cypher text.
- This cypher text and private key are then transferred to another location or person.
- The key is then used to decrypt the cypher back into plain text.
Security
Security
- Using a single key to encrypt and decrypt text proposes a massive flaw in security, as anyone with the key can decrypt the cypher.
- As with passwords, the longer the encryption key, the less likely it is to be compromised by brute force, and so the more secure the encryption.
Asymmetric encryption
Asymmetric encryption
- Asymmetric or public key encryption is a much stronger form of encryption and uses two keys: a public and a private key.
- The public key is given to anyone who wishes to send you encrypted data.
- This public key can only be used to encrypt information and not decrypt the information.
- The private key is used to decrypt the data, and only you have this key.
Public and private keys
Public and private keys
- The public and private key are related to one another through mathematical operations.
- The private key you set cannot be figured out from the public key.
Hashing
Hashing
Hashing can be used for both protecting data and for comparing files.
Hashing
Hashing
- Hashing is the process of taking an input, performing some form of calculation on the input that outputs a value of fixed size.
- The output is known as a hash.
- The hash function has no inverse (non-invertible).
- This means hashing is extremely secure as you cannot reverse a hash to get back to the original data that was input.
Passwords
Passwords
- Hashing can be used to store passwords.
- When a user creates a password for an account, it is put through a hashing function and stored as the encrypted password.
- A password entered by a user to gain access to the account will be put through the same hashing function and compared to the stored password.
- No one can know your actual password by looking in the database.
Digital signatures
Digital signatures
- Hashing can also be used as a way of adding digital signatures to files.
- The hash output value can be encrypted with a private key and sent to someone else and they use the matching public key to decrypt.
- This way you know it has come from that one specific person.
1Components of a Computer
1.1Structure & Function of the Processor
1.2Types of Processors
2Software & Software Development
2.1Systems Software
2.2Applications Generation
2.3Software Development
3Exchanging Data
3.1Compression, Encryption & Hashing
3.3Networks
4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms
4.1Data Types
5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues
5.1Computing Related Legislation
6Elements of Computational Thinking
6.1Thinking Abstractly
6.2Thinking Procedurally
6.3Thinking Logically
7Problem Solving & Programming
7.1Programming Techniques
7.2Programming Construction
Jump to other topics
1Components of a Computer
1.1Structure & Function of the Processor
1.2Types of Processors
2Software & Software Development
2.1Systems Software
2.2Applications Generation
2.3Software Development
3Exchanging Data
3.1Compression, Encryption & Hashing
3.3Networks
4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms
4.1Data Types
5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues
5.1Computing Related Legislation
6Elements of Computational Thinking
6.1Thinking Abstractly
6.2Thinking Procedurally
6.3Thinking Logically
7Problem Solving & Programming
7.1Programming Techniques
7.2Programming Construction
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