Public Key Encryption Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Public Key Encryption?

Public key encryption (also known as asymmetric encryption) is a type of cryptography which allows two parties to securely communicate over an unsecured channel. It works by each party having two keysa public key and a private key. The public key is publicly available and can be used by anyone to encrypt messages for that party. The private key, however, is only known by the owner and must be kept secret from everyone else in order for the system to work properly.When one person wants to send sensitive data to another, they first encrypt the message with the recipient’s public key. This locks it so that only the intended recipient can decrypt it using their private key. This makes it impossible for someone who intercepts the message to read it, since they don’t have access to either of these keys. This makes public key encryption one of the most secure forms of communication available today as long as both parties keep their private keys safe from potential attackers or hackers. Public Key Encryption also has many practical applications; from securing emails and other digital communications, digital signatures used in legal transactions, and even in secure payment systems like Bitcoin which rely on its security features for their maintenance of anonymity among users and preventing double spending or other fraudulent activities.