By Thabo Peyi
Apr 8th, 2025
4 min read
Decoding Encryption: What It Is and Why It Matters
In the digital sphere, encryption is one of the most valuable assets. Have you ever seen a message on WhatsApp or other messaging apps saying, “Messages you send to this chat and calls are now secured with end-to-end encryption?” But do you really know what it means and why encryption is essential for unlocking your digital freedom?
Related
Categories
All
Entertainment
Self Help
Tech News
Company Updates
Community
Social Media
What is encryption?
Encryption is the process of taking readable data and transforming it into a secure, indecipherable format that can only be accessed by authorised individuals. In the case of end-to-end encryption, as used by messaging giant WhatsApp, this means that not even WhatsApp itself has access to any calls or messages sent between users. The process of encryption is carried out using a mathematical algorithm known as a cryptographic key, which is data composed of numbers and letters that organise and scramble data, providing enhanced security.
Encryption, in its simplest form, can be illustrated by one person sending a message to another using a basic code. For example, instead of saying “dog”, they could replace each letter with its corresponding number in the alphabet, sending ‘4 15 7’ instead. The recipient, understanding this encryption, would then decode the numbers accordingly to reconstruct the original message.
Types of encryption
There are different types of encryption; however, the most commonly used types are symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption.
Symmetric encryption, also known as private key encryption, uses the same key to both encrypt and decrypt data, allowing for greater efficiency and a simpler encryption process. In contrast, asymmetric encryption, also known as public key encryption, uses two different keys-one for encryption and one for decryption. Asymmetric encryption provides a more secure form of communication because it utilises both a private key and a public key. The public key can be shared freely, but without the private key, the encrypted information cannot be accessed.
Why is encryption important
As the world continues to move towards digitalisation, the importance of encryption cannot be underestimated in protecting one’s online freedom. We use encryption every day, from online banking and shopping to securing our various digital devices. Even when browsing the internet, encryption ensures our data remains protected.
Confidentiality: Encryption ensures that only authorised individuals can access and receive information while preventing unauthorised access. It achieves this by scrambling data, making it unreadable to those without permission.
Integrity: Encryption maintains the integrity of data by preventing unauthorised modifications. A function known as cryptographic hashing generates a unique “fingerprint” of the data. If any alterations occur, the hash value changes, indicating possible tampering. This ensures that your information remains valid and unaltered.
Authentication: Encryption verifies that only the intended recipient can access the data. This is achieved through digital signatures, which confirm the authenticity of the information and ensure it has not been tampered with by unauthorised individuals.
Non-repudiation: Non-repudiation means that once a message or piece of information is sent, the sender cannot deny having sent it. This process is made possible through digital signatures, which provide proof of authorship, ensuring protection in cases of disputes or legal proceedings.
The limitation of encryption
Encryption is essential for security and protecting data and sensitive information; however, it does come with limitations that can hinder processes:
- Performance overhead: Encryption requires significant processing power, and thus it can limit system performance, slowing down real-time use and applications.
- Key management complexity: Managing the secure storage and transfer of encryption keys can present numerous challenges. If an encryption key is lost or compromised, it can lead to the recipient being unable to access the information, as well as the potential tampering of the information by third-party entities.
- Data theft: Despite encryption protecting data, if an unauthorised party breaches your system through cyberattacks, such as malware, they can gain access to sensitive information before encryption is applied.
- User error and poor implementation: Encryption often relies on passwords; however, users frequently employ weak passwords or forget them, which can make them easy targets for attacks. Additionally, using outdated algorithms can leave data vulnerable to less sophisticated cyberattacks.
- Legal restrictions: Certain countries may limit the distribution of encryption by preventing cross-border usage, which can reduce opportunities for global expansion.
Online freedom is essential in today’s digital world, which is why it is important to equip yourself with the necessary information to practice better online safety. Encryption plays a crucial role in online freedom, making it vital to understand what it is, its importance, and how we utilise it daily. At RSAWEB, we strive to ensure that users experience online freedom and feel protected at all times when using the internet. This Freedom Month, we urge our users to educate themselves on the best online safety practices so they can browse the internet securely and freely.
Decoding Encryption: What It Is and Why It Matters
Thabo Peyi
Apr 8th, 2025
4 min read
In the digital sphere, encryption is one of the most valuable assets. Have you ever seen a message on WhatsApp or other messaging apps saying, “Messages you send to this chat and calls are now secured with end-to-end encryption?” But do you really know what it means and why encryption is essential for unlocking your digital freedom?
What is encryption?
Encryption is the process of taking readable data and transforming it into a secure, indecipherable format that can only be accessed by authorised individuals. In the case of end-to-end encryption, as used by messaging giant WhatsApp, this means that not even WhatsApp itself has access to any calls or messages sent between users. The process of encryption is carried out using a mathematical algorithm known as a cryptographic key, which is data composed of numbers and letters that organise and scramble data, providing enhanced security.
Encryption, in its simplest form, can be illustrated by one person sending a message to another using a basic code. For example, instead of saying “dog”, they could replace each letter with its corresponding number in the alphabet, sending ‘4 15 7’ instead. The recipient, understanding this encryption, would then decode the numbers accordingly to reconstruct the original message.
Types of encryptions
There are different types of encryption; however, the most commonly used types are symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption.
Symmetric encryption, also known as private key encryption, uses the same key to both encrypt and decrypt data, allowing for greater efficiency and a simpler encryption process. In contrast, asymmetric encryption, also known as public key encryption, uses two different keys-one for encryption and one for decryption.
Asymmetric encryption provides a more secure form of communication because it utilises both a private key and a public key. The public key can be shared freely, but without the private key, the encrypted information cannot be accessed.
Why is encryption important
As the world continues to move towards digitalisation, the importance of encryption cannot be underestimated in protecting one’s online freedom. We use encryption every day, from online banking and shopping to securing our various digital devices.
Even when browsing the internet, encryption ensures our data remains protected.
Confidentiality: Encryption ensures that only authorised individuals can access and receive information while preventing unauthorised access. It achieves this by scrambling data, making it unreadable to those without permission.
Integrity: Encryption maintains the integrity of data by preventing unauthorised modifications. A function known as cryptographic hashing generates a unique “fingerprint” of the data. If any alterations occur, the hash value changes, indicating possible tampering. This ensures that your information remains valid and unaltered.
Authentication: Encryption verifies that only the intended recipient can access the data. This is achieved through digital signatures, which confirm the authenticity of the information and ensure it has not been tampered with by unauthorised individuals.
Non-repudiation: Non-repudiation means that once a message or piece of information is sent, the sender cannot deny having sent it. This process is made possible through digital signatures, which provide proof of authorship, ensuring protection in cases of disputes or legal proceedings.
The limitation of encryption
Encryption is essential for security and protecting data and sensitive information; however, it does come with limitations that can hinder processes:
- Performance overhead: Encryption requires significant processing power, and thus it can limit system performance, slowing down real-time use and applications.
- Key management complexity: Managing the secure storage and transfer of encryption keys can present numerous challenges. If an encryption key is lost or compromised, it can lead to the recipient being unable to access the information, as well as the potential tampering of the information by third-party entities.
- Data theft: Despite encryption protecting data, if an unauthorised party breaches your system through cyberattacks, such as malware, they can gain access to sensitive information before encryption is applied.
- User error and poor implementation: Encryption often relies on passwords; however, users frequently employ weak passwords or forget them, which can make them easy targets for attacks. Additionally, using outdated algorithms can leave data vulnerable to less sophisticated cyberattacks.
- Legal restrictions: Certain countries may limit the distribution of encryption by preventing cross-border usage, which can reduce opportunities for global expansion.
Online freedom is essential in today’s digital world, which is why it is important to equip yourself with the necessary information to practice better online safety. Encryption plays a crucial role in online freedom, making it vital to understand what it is, its importance, and how we utilise it daily.
At RSAWEB, we strive to ensure that users experience online freedom and feel protected at all times when using the internet. This Freedom Month, we urge our users to educate themselves on the best online safety practices so they can browse the internet securely and freely.
Related Products
