Encryption
The process of converting readable data into unreadable code to prevent unauthorized access.
Encryption transforms plaintext into ciphertext using a mathematical algorithm and a key. Only someone with the correct key can decrypt it back to readable form. Symmetric encryption (AES) uses one key for both encrypting and decrypting — fast but requires sharing the key securely. Asymmetric encryption (RSA) uses a public key to encrypt and a private key to decrypt — slower but solves the key-sharing problem. Your bank, email, messaging apps, and passwords all rely on encryption to keep data private.
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