Secure Coding Practices Questions Medium
Symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms are two different approaches to encrypting and decrypting data. The main difference between them lies in the way they use keys for encryption and decryption.
Symmetric encryption algorithms use a single key for both encryption and decryption. This means that the same key is used to both scramble and unscramble the data. The key needs to be kept secret and securely shared between the sender and the receiver. Examples of symmetric encryption algorithms include Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Data Encryption Standard (DES). Symmetric encryption is generally faster and more efficient than asymmetric encryption.
On the other hand, asymmetric encryption algorithms use a pair of keys - a public key and a private key. The public key is used for encryption, while the private key is used for decryption. The public key can be freely shared with anyone, while the private key must be kept secret. Any data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the corresponding private key. Examples of asymmetric encryption algorithms include RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). Asymmetric encryption provides a higher level of security and is commonly used for key exchange and digital signatures.
In summary, the main difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms is the use of keys. Symmetric encryption uses a single key for both encryption and decryption, while asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys - a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.