Every modern computer comes with tools for encrypting data to make it impossible for anyone without a valid key. What exactly is encryption, and how does it work? This article explains how encryption protects sensitive information from hackers.
Data encryption is the process of changing readable information into a coded form that can only be deciphered using the proper password by authorized users. It is an important component of cyber-security that ensures the security of data and protects sensitive data from non-authorized users.
The most common type of encryption uses mathematical models that are cryptographic to transform the original information into a jumbled collection of characters (also called ciphertext). Encryption algorithms «scrambles» individual bits in a random manner to ensure that it takes a huge amount of computing power to identify the key and then convert it back to plaintext.
If you are using AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) which is the most widely used encryption method, for your digital files every one of the ones and 0s in the file are scrambled 10 times in a semi random pattern. Without the correct key to read it, a computer would have to run for an extremely long time trying to rearrange them all into the proper order.
The encryption process can also be used to stop data leaks and ransomware. If hackers steal encrypted data, they can’t read it and will be not able to blackmail the company or the individuals involved in the threat of releasing the stolen data on the dark web. The encryption also protects backup systems against hackers, as they are unable to access the data in its original format.