Encryption

Encryption is the process of turning data into unreadable code that can only be accessed by authorized parties. It is important for protecting data and communication online. Encryption ensures data security, confidentiality, and privacy. There are different encryption methods, including symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing, and digital signatures. These methods use keys and techniques to encrypt and decrypt data. Encryption is crucial for maintaining privacy and protecting against unauthorized access and tampering. Hello, and welcome to Tech Tips Podcast, where we discuss the latest trends and topics in the world of technology. I am your host, Eben Eze, and today we are going to talk about encryption. Encryption is the process of transforming data or information into an unreadable form that can only be accessed by authorized parties who have the key to decrypt it. Encryption is essential for ensuring the security and privacy of data and communication on the internet. In this episode, we will cover some of the basic concepts and methods of encryption, and why they are important for protecting your data and rights online. We will also explore some of the challenges and contributions surrounding encryption, and how they can be addressed and resolved. To help us with this topic, we have invited a special guest, Godfrey, who is an expert in encryption and cryptography. Godfrey, welcome to our show. Thank you, Eben Eze. It's a pleasure to be here. Okay. Godfrey, can you tell us what is encryption and why it is important? Sure, Eben Eze. Encryption is the art of converting data or information into a secret code that can be deciphered by someone who has the key to unlock it. For example, when you send an email to your friend, you may want to encrypt it so that only your friend can read it and not anyone else who may intercept it on the way. Encryption is important for several reasons. One, it protects your data and communication from unauthorized access and tampering. For example, if someone asks your email account, they may be able to read your message but not to change it or send emails on your behalf. Encryption can prevent this by making your message unreadable and unmodifiable by anyone who does not have a key. Two, it enables confidentiality and integrity of your data and communication. For example, when you make an online transaction, you may want to encrypt it so that only you and the recipient can see the details and that the transaction is valid and secure. Encryption can ensure this by hiding your data for prying eyes and verifying its authenticity. Three, it supports freedom of expression and privacy of the data and communication. When you use a messaging app or a social media platform, you may want to encrypt your messages or posts so that only you and your intended audience can see them and not anyone else who may censor or survey them. Encryption can enable this by protecting your data from unwanted interference and intrusion. That's very interesting, Godfrey. Can you give us some examples on how encryption works in practice? Sure, Ebenezer. There are different types of data and information that can be encrypted, such as text, images, audio, videos. There are also different methods and techniques that can be used for encryption, depending on the level of security and complexity required. Some of the common methods and techniques are symmetric encryption. Symmetric encryption is a method of encryption that uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. For example, when you send an encrypted email to your friend, you both need to have the same key to encrypt and decrypt it. Two, asymmetric encryption. This is a method of encryption that uses two different keys for encryption and decryption, a public key and a private key. For instance, when you send an encrypted email to your friend, you use their public key to encrypt it and they use their private key to decrypt it. Three, hashing. This is a technique of encryption that converts data into a fixed-length string that cannot be reversed or decrypted. For example, when you create a password for a website, it may use hashing to store it in its database so that even if someone accesses the database, they cannot see your password. Again, digital signature. This is a technique of encryption that uses hashing and asymmetric encryption to verify the identity and authenticity of a sender or a message. For example, when you sign an online document with a digital signature, it uses hashing to create a unique fingerprint of your document and uses your private key to encrypt it. The recipient can then use your public key to decrypt it and compare it with the hash of the document to verify its integrity. Wow, Godfrey, that's very informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. You are welcome, Ebenezer. I hope it was helpful. It certainly was. And that's all we have time for today. Thank you for listening to the Tech Talk Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more updates and news. Until next time, stay safe and stay curious. Bye for now.