What is Cryptography? – Detailed Explanation

Cryptography

Cryptography is a process of protecting information by transforming it in cipher text, which is an unreadable format. This information can decipher by only those who have the secret key which convert the message in plain text. Cryptography is very necessary for Network security. The word ‘Cryptography’ is derived from Greek word Kryptos, means hidden. In simple, cryptography has been used to pass coded messages between parties to ensure communication privacy and provide for secure communications between authorized parties while preventing unauthorized parties from monitoring communications.

Nowadays, cases of online theft are becoming increasingly popular because when we surf internet and do transactions online, a lot of information is being exchanged between the web host and the device being used to surf the internet. And in this process information can always be easily breached by hackers.


Need of Cryptography

Today cryptography is essential for many areas in our society and it is employed in a variety of systems including personal computing, mobile phones, banking systems, magnetic cards, ATM machines, electronic commerce, data storage, wireless devices, etc. However, few users are aware of cryptography’s presence in our life, and even fewer know how to use it or how it works internally.
To Secure Emails cryptography is necessary because Email is one of the most insecure systems ever simply because it was not designed to be secure. Messages travel through many machines, networks and even countries, and they can be intercepted in many different ways by anyone who has access to them.
The major aim of cryptography is not to provide perfect or risk-free security, but major objective is to protect information resources by making unauthorized acquisition of the information or tampering with the information more costly than the potential value that might be gained. Cryptography makes very difficult for attacker to determine that key to read and steal the information exchanging between device and host while surfing internet. Also cryptography makes difficult to determine key, not impossible. Sometimes, these codes may determined by skilled decoder but the cost of the attack would be much higher than the value of the information that is being protected by the key.Cryptography helps to protect confidential online data and information like, login Id/Password, Email security, banking transactions. It helps people from being hacked by hackers or spammers. 
Process of Cryptography
Original message is firstly encrypted to be sent by passing through some secret codes. No the person who will have to decrypt the message needs these secret codes. Below Image makes you clear all about what I talked in above lines.
Cryptography Meaning and Process
Now, Encryption is done in two methods:
1. Symmetric
2. Asymmetric
1. Symmetric Cryptography
Symmetric cryptography is faster, simpler and more economic than asymmetric cryptography
because it does less mathematical calculations, which in turn uses the less machine resources. It is also more compatible with other systems and it is very secure.
But, the main problem in symmetric cryptography is in the transmission of the secret code. When you send an encrypted file to another person you also have to send the password so the person can open it, and symmetric cryptography does not provide any means to send the password in a secure way.
2. Asymmetric Cryptography (Public Key Cryptography)
Asymmetric cryptography is also known as Public Key cryptography. It is specially designed for solving the problem of transmission of secret code, which was in Symmetric cryptography. In public key cryptography instead of using equal and same key, it used in two different parts, one is for you and second is for other persons. These parts are called keys which are further Public and Private. Public keys are the keys which you distribute to others and private key is one which you have to keep with yourself.
Keys are paired to read the message, without pairing and mutual acceptance, receiver can’t read the messages sent by the sender.
Functions of Cryptography
1. Authentication: 
Verification of the identity of the entities that communicate over the network.

2. Confidentiality:
Assurance that only authorized users can read or use confidential information.

3. Integrity:
Verification that the original contents of information have not been altered or corrupted.

4. Non repudiation
Assurance that a party in a communication cannot falsely deny that a part of the actual communication occurred.

Important:
SSL certificates for websites use Cryptography to protect the confidential data.

How to Activate Cryptography Services on Computers?

To activate Cryptography, your first step is to Download and Install software GNU Privacy guard. I am recommending GNU Privacy guard here, because it is free and easy to install and start. Learn more about GNU Privacy guarrd on Wikipedia.

1. Download GNU Privacy guard software on your system.
2. Create Key pair to communicate with others with safety and security.
3. Exchange keys – You have to send your public key to your contacts and they will send to you.
4. Set rules and trust level with your partner, with whom you are communicating.

That’s All, You have done with Cryptography Installation. If you face any difficulty in installation of GNU privacy guard for cryptography then please let me know to provide you the best solution.

Conclusion

After knowing the importance of cryptography in these days, you might try to go with cryptography and GNU Privacy guard makes it more easy to go with cryptography for Free. So everyone can now reach with the high-level securities and privacy. This is a little effort by Tips2secure for their most valuable readers. We care our readers and privacy too.

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