Encryption
The process of securing data, which is foundational to digital security, e-commerce, and cryptocurrencies. Current encryption methods are vulnerable to being broken by future quantum computers.
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8/19/2025, 9:47:17 PM
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8/19/2025, 9:51:54 PM
Summary
Encryption is a fundamental process in cryptography that transforms intelligible information, known as plaintext, into an encoded form called ciphertext. Its primary purpose is to protect sensitive content from unauthorized access by denying understanding to potential interceptors, although it does not prevent interference. This transformation typically relies on a pseudo-random encryption key generated by an algorithm, allowing authorized recipients to easily decrypt the message while making it computationally intensive and difficult for unauthorized parties without the key. Historically, encryption was crucial for military communications, but it has since become an integral part of modern computing, utilizing concepts like public-key and symmetric-key cryptography to secure data. The advent of quantum computing, exemplified by Google's Willow chip and the capabilities of Shor's Algorithm, poses a significant and urgent threat to current encryption standards such as RSA and SHA-256, necessitating a rapid transition to post-quantum encryption solutions.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Field
Cryptography
Process
Encoding information (plaintext to ciphertext)
Purpose
Ensure confidentiality
Key Types
Symmetric-key
Mechanism
Uses pseudo-random encryption key generated by an algorithm
Future Need
Post-Quantum Encryption
Major Threat
Quantum computing
Core Components
Algorithm (Cipher)
Affected Standards
SHA-256
Modern Application
Securing sensitive information, passwords, personal communication
Decryption with key
Easily decrypted by authorized recipients
Decryption without key
Requires significant computational resources and skills for well-designed schemes
Historical Application
Military messaging
Specific Quantum Threat Algorithm
Shor's Algorithm
Timeline
- Early encryption techniques, such as the 'Scytale', were used for ciphering text. (Source: Web Search)
Ancient Greece
- Encryption was primarily used in military messaging to protect communications. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia)
Historical
- New encryption techniques emerged and became commonplace in all areas of modern computing, securing sensitive information. (Source: Wikipedia)
Modern Era
- Google's Willow (Quantum Chip) was fabricated in Santa Barbara, marking a milestone in quantum computing that accelerates the threat to modern encryption standards like RSA and SHA-256. (Source: Related Documents)
Recent Development
- The development of quantum computing, particularly Shor's Algorithm, highlights the urgent need for post-quantum encryption solutions. (Source: Summary, Related Documents)
Ongoing Need
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaEncryption
In cryptography, encryption (more specifically, encoding) is the process of transforming information in a way that, ideally, only authorized parties can decode. This process converts the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. Despite its goal, encryption does not itself prevent interference but denies the intelligible content to a would-be interceptor. For technical reasons, an encryption scheme usually uses a pseudo-random encryption key generated by an algorithm. It is possible to decrypt the message without possessing the key but, for a well-designed encryption scheme, considerable computational resources and skills are required. An authorized recipient can easily decrypt the message with the key provided by the originator to recipients but not to unauthorized users. Historically, various forms of encryption have been used to aid in cryptography. Early encryption techniques were often used in military messaging. Since then, new techniques have emerged and become commonplace in all areas of modern computing. Modern encryption schemes use the concepts of public-key and symmetric-key. Modern encryption techniques ensure security because modern computers are inefficient at cracking the encryption.
Web Search Results
- Encryption
In cryptography, encryption (more specifically, encoding) is the process of transforming information in a way that, ideally, only authorized parties can decode. This process converts the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. Despite its goal, encryption does not itself prevent interference but denies the intelligible content to a would-be interceptor. [...] ## Encryption in cryptography In the context of cryptography, encryption serves as a mechanism to ensure confidentiality. Since data may be visible on the Internet, sensitive information such as passwords and personal communication may be exposed to potential interceptors. The process of encrypting and decrypting messages involves keys "Key (cryptography)"). The two main types of keys in cryptographic systems are symmetric-key and public-key (also known as asymmetric-key).
- 3 Types of Encryption - Detailed Guide with Pros & Cons - Sealpath
Encryption, in simple terms, is the transformation of readable information, known as plaintext, into an unreadable format, termed ciphertext. This process is crucial for securing sensitive information, and ensuring that it is safe from unauthorized access, especially during transmission over the internet. Its origins trace back to the ancient Greeks, with their device called ‘Scytale’, used to cipher text.
- What is Encryption and how does it work? - OpenText
Tech topics # What is Encryption? ## Overview Data encryption is a computing process that encodes plaintext/cleartext (unencrypted, human-readable data) into ciphertext (encrypted data) that is accessible only by authorized users with the right cryptographic key. Simply put, encryption converts readable data into some other form that only people with the right password can decode and view – and is a vital component of digital transformation. [...] Encryption and tokenization are related data protection technologies; the distinction between them has evolved. In common usage, tokenization typically refers to format-preserving data protection: data protection that substitutes a token – a similar-looking but different value – for individual sensitive values. Encryption typically means data protection that converts data – one or more values, or entire data sets – into gibberish that looks very different from the original. [...] Whether your business produces, aggregates, or consumes data, encryption is a key data privacy protection strategy that keeps sensitive information out of the hands of unauthorized users. This page provides a very high-level view of what encryption is and how it works. ## Encryption ### How does encryption work?
- Data Encryption: How It Works & Methods Used - Unitrends
Encryption uses complex mathematical algorithms and digital keys to encrypt data. An encryption algorithm (cipher) and an encryption key encode data into ciphertext. Once the ciphertext is transmitted to the recipient, the same or different key (cipher) is used to decode the ciphertext back into the original value. [...] TheComputer Security Resource Center(CSRC) defines encryption as “the cryptographic transformation of data into a form that conceals the data’s original meaning to prevent it from being known or used.” In simple words, encryption protects sensitive data from prying eyes by scrambling ordinary text (plaintext) into a form (ciphertext) that is impossible to read without the proper decryption key. [...] | Hashing | Encryption | | --- | --- | | Hashing is a one-way function to convert information to a shorter fixed value known as the key. | Encryption is a two-way function that transforms plaintext into ciphertext and then uses a key to decode the ciphertext into plaintext. | | The main objective of hashing is to audit data: indexing and retrieving items from the database. | The main objective of encryption is to transmit data over networks securely. |
- What is encryption and how does it work?
# What is encryption? Encryption is used to protect data from being stolen, changed, or compromised and works by scrambling data into a secret code that can only be unlocked with a unique digital key. Encrypted data can be protected while at rest on computers or in transit between them, or while being processed, regardless of whether those computers are located on-premises or are remote cloud servers. [...] At its most basic level, encryption is the process of protecting information or data by using mathematical models to scramble it in such a way that only the parties who have the key to unscramble it can access it. That process can range from very simple to very complex, and mathematicians and computer scientists have invented specific forms of encryption that are used to protect information and data that consumers and businesses rely on every day. ## How encryption works [...] Encryption works by encoding “plaintext” into “ciphertext,” typically through the use of cryptographic mathematical models known as algorithms. To decode the data back to plaintext requires the use of a decryption key, a string of numbers or a password also created by an algorithm. Secure encryption methods have such a large number of cryptographic keys that an unauthorized person can neither guess which one is correct, nor use a computer to easily calculate the correct string of characters by
Wikidata
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DBPedia
View on DBPediaIn cryptography, encryption is the process of encoding information. This process converts the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. Ideally, only authorized parties can decipher a ciphertext back to plaintext and access the original information. Encryption does not itself prevent interference but denies the intelligible content to a would-be interceptor. For technical reasons, an encryption scheme usually uses a pseudo-random encryption key generated by an algorithm. It is possible to decrypt the message without possessing the key but, for a well-designed encryption scheme, considerable computational resources and skills are required. An authorized recipient can easily decrypt the message with the key provided by the originator to recipients but not to unauthorized users. Historically, various forms of encryption have been used to aid in cryptography. Early encryption techniques were often used in military messaging. Since then, new techniques have emerged and become commonplace in all areas of modern computing. Modern encryption schemes use the concepts of public-key and symmetric-key. Modern encryption techniques ensure security because modern computers are inefficient at cracking the encryption.