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This lesson covers how data is protected during storage and transmission using encryption. At A-Level you must understand symmetric and asymmetric encryption, the role of keys, and how digital signatures and digital certificates ensure authenticity and integrity.
Encryption is the process of converting plaintext (readable data) into ciphertext (unreadable scrambled data) using an algorithm and a key. Only someone with the correct key can decrypt the ciphertext back to plaintext.
Plaintext ──→ [Encryption Algorithm + Key] ──→ Ciphertext
Ciphertext ──→ [Decryption Algorithm + Key] ──→ Plaintext
In symmetric encryption, the same key is used for both encryption and decryption. Both the sender and receiver must share this secret key.
Sender Receiver
Plaintext ──→ [Encrypt with Key K] ──→ Ciphertext ──→ [Decrypt with Key K] ──→ Plaintext
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