Difference Between Encryption and Decryption

What are encryption and decryption?

• Encryption is the process of converting normal data into an unreadable form. Decryption is the method of converting unreadable or encoded data into its original form.
• Encryption is done by the person who is sending the data to the destination, but decryption is done by the person who is receiving the data.
• The same algorithm with the same key is used for both the encryption and decryption processes.

Here, I have analyzed the difference between encryption and decryption and will comprehensively evaluate their pros and cons. 

What is cryptography?

Cryptography secures and protects data during communication. It helps prevent an unauthorized person or group of users from accessing confidential data. Encryption and decryption are the two essential functionalities of cryptography.

A message sent over the network that is transformed into an unrecognizable encrypted message is known as data encryption. At the receiving end, the received message is converted to its original form, which is known as decryption.

What is Encryption?

Encryption is a process which transforms the original information into an unrecognizable form. This new form of the message is entirely different from the original message. That’s why a hacker is not able to read the data, as senders use an encryption algorithm. Encryption is usually done using key algorithms.

The data is encrypted to keep it safe from theft. However, many known companies also encrypt data to keep their trade secret from their competitors.

What is Decryption?

Decryption is the process of converting encoded/encrypted data into a form that is readable and understood by a human or a computer. This method is performed by un-encrypting the text manually or by using keys used to encrypt the original data.

Applications of Encryption and Decryption

Here, from my experience, are the crucial reasons to employ encryption:

• It helps you protect your confidential data, such as passwords and login IDs.
• Provides confidentiality for private information.
• It helps you to ensure that the document or file has not been altered.
• Encryption process also prevents plagiarism and protects IP.
• Helpful for network communication (like the internet) and where a hacker can easily access unencrypted data.
• It is an essential method as it helps you to securely protect data that you don’t want anyone else to have access.

Examples of Encryption and Decryption

I have compiled examples of encryption and decryption for you.

• Secure Online Banking: Financial institutions use encryption to secure communication between clients and their servers. Decryption is only possible with authorized access, keeping transactions confidential.
• Email Encryption: Sensitive emails are encrypted using protocols like PGP or S/MIME to prevent unauthorized reading. The recipient decrypts the message using a private key that matches the sender’s public key.
• Digital Signatures: Encryption helps authenticate documents. A digital signature, created using the signer’s private key, is decrypted by others using the public key to verify authenticity.
• Cloud Storage Security: Files stored on cloud services are encrypted to prevent data breaches. Users decrypt these files locally using a key provided by the cloud service after successful authentication.

Types of Keys

Symmetric Key

Symmetric-key encryption algorithms use the same cryptographic keys for both the encryption of plaintext and the decryption of ciphertext.

Asymmetric Key

Asymmetric encryption uses two pairs of keys: the Public Key and the Secret Key. The Public Key is available to anyone, while the Secret Key is only available to the message’s receiver, thus boosting security.

Public Key

Public-key cryptography is an encryption system based on two pairs of keys. Public keys encrypt messages for a receiver.

Private Key

The private key may be part of a public or private asymmetric key pair. It can be used in asymmetric encryption, as the same key can be used to encrypt and decrypt data.

Pre-Shared Key

In cryptography, a pre-shared key (PSK) is a shared secret that was earlier shared between the two parties using a secure channel before it was used.

Difference between Encryption and Decryption

Based on my in-depth knowledge, the main difference between encryption and decryption is as follows:

Parameter	Encryption	Decryption
What is	It is the process of converting normal data into an unreadable form. It helps you avoid unauthorized access to data.	It is a method of converting the unreadable or encoded data back into its original form.
Process	Whenever the data is sent between two separate machines, it is encrypted automatically using a secret key.	The receiver of the data automatically allows you to convert the data from the codes into its original form.
Location of Conversion	The person who is sending the data to the destination.	The receiver receives the data and converts it.
Example	An employee is sending essential documents to his/her manager.	The manager is receiving the essential documents from his/her employee.
Use of Algorithm	The same algorithm with the same key is used for the encryption-decryption process.	The only single algorithm is used for encryption and decryption is a pair of keys, each used for encryption and decryption.
Major function	Transforming humanly understandable messages into an incomprehensible and obscure form that can not be interpreted.	It is the conversion of an obscure message into an understandable form which is easy for a human to understand.

Conclusion

• Cryptography is used to secure and protect data during communication.
• In my projects, encryption is utilized to morph original information into a state that is unrecognizable.
• Decryption is the process of converting encoded/encrypted data into a form that is readable and understood by a human or a computer.
• Encryption method helps you protect your confidential data, such as passwords and login IDs.
• Public, private, pre-shared, and symmetric keys are important keys used in cryptography.
• “An employee is sending essential documents to his/her manager” is an example of an encryption method.
• “The manager is receiving the essential encrypted documents from his/her employee and decrypting them” is an example of a decryption method.