Cryptography, public key and private key

Thread starter fisico30
Start date Sep 18, 2012
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Cryptography

In summary, cryptography is the practice of securing information by converting it into a code that can only be read by the intended recipient. Public keys, which are used for encrypting data, are made available to anyone, while private keys, used for decrypting data, are kept secret. Common uses of public and private keys include secure communication and digital signatures. These keys work together to ensure secure communication by using asymmetric encryption.

Sep 18, 2012

fisico30

Hello Forum,

If Alice wants to send a secret message to Bob, she has to encrypt it first to keep the message secure.

Who issues the public key in this case and who uses the private key?

thanks
fisico30

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Sep 18, 2012

Borek

Mentor

Have you checked usual sources, like wikipedia? Or any pages shown by Google when you search for "public key" or "private key"?

1. What is cryptography and why is it important?

Cryptography is the practice of securing information and communication by converting it into a code that is unreadable to anyone except the intended recipient. It is important because it helps protect sensitive information from being accessed by unauthorized individuals.

2. What is a public key and how does it work?

A public key is part of a cryptographic system that uses asymmetric encryption. It is made available to anyone and is used to encrypt data. The encrypted data can then only be decrypted by the corresponding private key, which is kept secret by the owner.

3. How is a private key different from a public key?

A private key is a secret code that is used to decrypt data that has been encrypted with its corresponding public key. It is kept confidential by the owner and should never be shared with anyone else. A public key, on the other hand, is made available to anyone and is used to encrypt data.

4. What are some common uses of public and private keys?

Public and private keys are commonly used in secure communication, such as online banking and e-commerce transactions. They are also used in digital signatures to verify the authenticity of a document or message.

5. How do public and private keys ensure secure communication?

Public and private keys work together to ensure secure communication by using asymmetric encryption. The public key encrypts the data, which can only be decrypted by the corresponding private key. This makes it difficult for anyone without the private key to intercept and read the information being transmitted.