In today's modern technological world, electronic transactions and the use of digital technologies have apparently increased to ensure faster and safer modes of communication. To maintain the security and authenticity of the data, it is necessary to wrap your data with some cybersecurity methods.
Encryption and decryption play a major role in promoting higher safety and security for information exchanged between two or more parties.
So, encryption and decryption are two fundamental techniques used to secure electronic documents and ensure their privacy. Now, we will discuss the main difference between encryption and decryption and expound more on cybersecurity, Public Key Infrastructure PKI, digital certificate, and the use of digital signature for document signing and recording confidential data.
What Is Encryption & How It Is Created?
Encryption is a method of converting plain text into a coded format, known as ciphertext, using an encryption algorithm and a secret key. The purpose of encryption is to protect the confidentiality of data so that only authorized/intended parties can read it.
Encryption in simple meaning is a technique to hide sensitive information from unauthorized entities. A user encodes the particular information or message using a hash value. It is impossible to decode that hash value without the use of decryption tools.
Again, encryption is created by using a receiver's public key and the message is sent to that intended receiver. A receiver uses his/her private key to decrypt that data. A private key function can relatively be used in both encryption and decryption processes.
This encryption process using a secret key is essential for the basis of cybersecurity. Hence, it is widely used in protecting office data, banking, and finance, maintaining health records, transactions, and other organizational works.
Know About Decryption Process In The Cryptography
Decryption is the method of converting encrypted or encoded data back into its original form so that it can be understood. It is the opposite of encryption, which is the process of transforming information into a secret code or cipher to prevent unauthorized access.
Decryption requires the use of a decryption key i.e. receiver's private key that can unlock the encrypted data and restore it to its original form. So decryption is simply a process to decode the sender's encoded message by matching it to its hash values.
Decryption is mainly used in the authentication of the sender's data. If the encrypted data is matched with the decryption key then it would seem to be original. So, unaltered information means no change is made between encryption & decryption by maintaining its key secrecy.
Use of Encryption & Decryption In Digital Signature
Let us discuss how encryption and decryption play a crucial role in digital signatures as they help to ensure the integrity, authenticity, and confidentiality of the signature.
When a document is signed by using a
digital signature certificate, the sender of the message uses a private key to encrypt a message hash, which is a unique and secure identifier of the message. This encrypted hash is then attached to the message as the signature. A digital signature is a digital resemblance to a handwritten signature.
To verify the digital signature, the receiver of the message uses the sender's public key to verify the signature, which reveals the original message hash. The receiver then computes a new hash of the received message and compares it to the decrypted hash. If the two hashes match, it means that the message has not been modified in transit and the signature is authentic and original.
When the particular data is encrypted, then a user uses a public key of the intended receiver and encodes the data. In the case of decryption, a private key of the receiver is used to decode the data. This ensures no alteration has been made. So encryption and decryption ensure total security of the data.
Know About Digital Signature Certificate & Certifying Authority
Digital Signature Certificate DSC is an electronic form of a paper-based certificate that is used to keep all personal details. A
digital signature is more authentic, and original. It attaches digital signatures in it and creates the availability of signatures anywhere & anytime. Digital Certificates digitally sign documents and records.
Certificate authorities are responsible for offering DSC and other signing solutions to individuals and organizations. These are licensed by the Controller of Certifying Authority CCA, Government of India.
Capricorn CA is a licensed Certificate Authority CA that deals in
digital signature, PKI solutions, and other signing services. We offer our services as per the expectation of users and solve their signing needs on time.
Conclusion
Encryption and decryption processes offer complete security to your confidential data. In a digital signature, both methods of cryptography play a significant role in the authentication of data. So, to add a layer of cybersecurity and make digital signing safer, encryption and decryption using a public and private key is an advanced cryptographic technique.
