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Asymmetric encryption, also called public-key cryptography, uses a pair of mathematically related keys: a public key and a private key. It solves the fundamental problem of symmetric encryption — how to share a secret key securely.
With symmetric encryption, both parties need the same key. But how do you share that key securely?
Whitfield Diffie and Martin Hellman solved this problem in 1976 by inventing public-key cryptography, one of the most important breakthroughs in the history of information security.
Each user generates a key pair:
| Key | Properties |
|---|---|
| Public key | Shared openly with anyone |
| Private key | Kept secret — never shared |
Sender: Plaintext ──▶ [Encrypt with Recipient's PUBLIC key] ──▶ Ciphertext
Receiver: Ciphertext ──▶ [Decrypt with Recipient's PRIVATE key] ──▶ Plaintext
Only the recipient's private key can decrypt data encrypted with their public key.
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