To unlock the message, both the sender and the recipient have to use a “secret” encryption key - a collection of algorithms that scramble and unscramble data back to a readable format.

When the intended recipient accesses the message, the information is translated back to its original form. How does encryption work?Įncryption takes plain text, like a text message or email, and scrambles it into an unreadable format - called “cipher text.” This helps protect the confidentiality of digital data either stored on computer systems or transmitted through a network like the Internet. It’s nearly impossible to do business of any kind without your personal data ending up in an organization’s networked computer system, which is why it’s important to know how to help keep that data private.Įncryption plays an essential role in this task. Vast amounts of personal information are managed online and stored in the cloud or on servers with an ongoing connection to the web. It helps provide data security for sensitive information.

What is encryption?Įncryption is a process that scrambles readable text so it can only be read by the person who has the secret code, or decryption key. That can include text messages stored on your smartphone, running logs saved on your fitness watch, and banking information sent through your online account. When the message does get to its recipients, they have their own key to unscramble the information back into plain, readable text.Įncryption, then, can help protect the data you send, receive and store using a device. Encryption is an important privacy tool when you are sending sensitive, confidential, or personal information across the Internet.Įncryption scrambles plain text into a type of secret code that hackers, cybercriminals, and other online snoops can't read, even if they intercept it before it reaches its intended recipients.

Is encryption good