Encryption keys are used to secure data during storage or transmission by converting readable information into an unreadable format. Only those who possess the correct key can decrypt and access the original data.
How Do Encryption Keys Work?
Encryption keys are part of cryptographic algorithms that help ensure data confidentiality and integrity. The most common types are:
- Symmetric Encryption: The same key is used for both encryption and decryption. Example: AES.
- Asymmetric Encryption: A pair of keys is used — one public and one private. Example: RSA.
Why Are Encryption Keys Important?
Without encryption keys, encrypted data would remain unreadable, and even if hackers gained access to it, they wouldn’t be able to decrypt and use it.
Note: In systems that use "Zero-Knowledge Architecture," encryption keys are stored on the user's device and are never accessed by external servers, ensuring complete privacy.
Types of Encryption Keys
- Private Key: Used in asymmetric encryption. Only the owner of the private key can decrypt the data.
- Public Key: Used to encrypt the data, which can only be decrypted with the private key.
- Session Key: A temporary key used for encrypting data during a specific session or transaction.