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Encryption is the process of converting human-readable information into a scrambled, unreadable format called ciphertext.
This is done to prevent access to sensitive information by unauthorized people.
The random strings of bits used to encrypt data are called encryption keys.
InFebruary 2009, Dave Crouse noticed suspicious transactions in his bank account.
First, small transactions of less than $40 arose suspicion but didnt alarm him.
However, six months down the line, things got terrible.
All this was because his personal data was stolen through malware that infected his computer.
Crouses case is not unique.
It is, therefore, important to ensure that sensitive information is protected from malicious attackers.
An excellent way to do this is through symmetric encryption.
There are two types of encryption: asymmetric and symmetric encryption.
The difference between these two lies in the keys used for encryption and decryption.
In symmetric encryption, one key is used to encrypt and decrypt the encrypted data.
This is why symmetric encryption is also known as shared key encryption.
Anyone with the key can encrypt the data or decrypt it back to its original form.
Therefore, it is important that this key is kept secret from unauthorized people.
This is also the reason why symmetric encryption is also referred to as secret key encryption.
The security of symmetric encryption lies in the key remaining secret.
How Symmetric Encryption Works
There are two modes of symmetric encryption.
These are stream and block modes.
In stream mode, each bit of data is independently encrypted and transmitted as a continuous stream.
These blocks are then encrypted and transmitted.
This key is then shared between the parties communicating.
Once the key has been received by authorized parties, data can now be securely transmitted.
Block mode encryption, however, is the more modern and popular choice of symmetric encryption.
The encrypted data is then transmitted to the intended receiver.
This is called decryption.
DES breaks data into blocks bits of 64 bits and uses a 56-bit key to encrypt the data.
DES is, however, seen to be less secure, and NIST withdrew it as an encryption standard.
However, modern computers can brute force a 56-bit key.
This is why its use is not recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST).
#2.Triple Data Encryption Standard(3DES, TDES)
TDES is based on the DES.
It was developed to address the main weakness of DES, which is having a short key length.
This triples the 56-bit key used by DES into a more secure 168-bit key.
It is more secure than other symmetric encryption algorithms.
AES was developed as a replacement and a solution to DES.
AES is based on the substitution-permutation connection and uses a block mode of encryption.
Data is broken into blocks of 128 bits which are then encrypted one block at a time.
AES uses a key length of 128, 192, or 256 bits.
In 2001, NIST announced AES as the new standard for US government use.
AES has since become the most popular and most used symmetric algorithm.
Symmetric Encryption: Considerations
When using symmetric encryption, there are several things you should probably consider.
The symmetric algorithm used needs to be compliant with regulations.
On the other hand, using an algorithm such as DES is a complete violation of regulations.
AES is, however, compliant.
The security of symmetric encryption is directly related to the length of the key used.
Picking an encryption key with a short length can be vulnerable to brute force attacks leading to data breaches.
Each symmetric algorithm has its strengths, weaknesses, and intended devices.
Symmetric Encryption: Benefits
The use of symmetric encryption has several advantages.
This includes:
Symmetric encryption is very secure.
This means when used properly, symmetric encryption is very secure.
symmetric encryption algorithms are not computationally intensive and are easy to use.
The security of symmetric encryption is pegged on the ability of users to share the encryption key securely.
This sets users up for more damage if their key is compromised.
The book covers all the vocabulary used incryptographyand provides examples to augment the explanations of the concepts.
It then progresses to break down the building blocks for symmetric encryption providing illustrations and concise, easy-to-understand explanations.
It then progresses to intermediate topics and covers symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms and hash functions and algorithms.
Conclusion
Symmetric encryption is very useful in securing data in transit and at rest.
To learn more about symmetric encryption, consider reading the recommended books or taking the suggested courses.
You may also explore cloud cryptography, its types, and the Google Cloud deployment.
