SSL security is all about encryption of data over the two nodes. The safe transfer over an internet connection is attained due to the encryption performed by the SSL system.
Why is it necessary?
Now, I can list n-numbers of examples that could prove its necessity for our daily transmission or transactions process.
- If you don’t want to become a phishing victim then you need to encrypt your data.
- It ensures the authenticity of the user.
- It saves your sensitive information from fraudulent.
Now, we often talk about encryption. What exactly is encryption?
Now, considered a box full of letters forming different sentences. Now, if I scramble those alphabets, then it becomes unreadable. Encryption follows the same protocol.
The plaintext or readable text is usually scrambled into an unreadable text or characters which are also known as ciphertext.
Now, this ciphertext can only be cracked using a cipher key. And that cipher can either be a public key or private key.
The private key allows only a destined recipient to crack the code into a readable form.
On the contrary, the public key is meant for the use of everyone. It is no big secret to anyone.
Use of algorithms
It is more of a logical procedure than it seems.
It uses mathematical algorithms that convert plaintext into a scrambled mess of letters and symbols which could only be decrypted by key.
Like if you are a biologist , you would better understand it if you try to correlate it with lock and key hypothesis of entomology.
Now, you can obviously make use of several different algorithms like:
- Two fish
- Blowfish
- AES or DES
Or many more…..
Types of encryption
Now, the encryption can be performed in two ways which can be either symmetric or asymmetric. Let’s try and understand both of these terminologies.
Symmetric encryption.
Comparatively this type of encryption is considered a little less secure over the other method. Because, both the server and host are utilizing the same key to decrypt the message. Use of a common key exposes it more attacks by fraudulent.
Asymmetric key.
Now, this is the encryption technique that is utilized by TLS/SSL system. It is considered the safest way of encryption.
It generally utilizes or makes use of two different keys which are public key and private key.
So, cracking this ciphertext can be a strenuous task and could take several light years to do so.
256- bit encryption
By now, you all must have understood the functioning and importance of encryption. Now, let’s move on to 256-bit encryption system.
This is the safest method of encryption used to date. It utilizes 256- bit key to encrypt and decrypt the data.
The numeric term here describes the length of the key here utilized for the encryption.
Now, 256-bit length means than you can make combinations of two raised to the power of 256. Now, this number is humanly impossible to calculate. Approximately, a billion combinations are possible with this type of key. Practically, it is impossible to crack. And even if we are using supercomputer than also it would require several light years for trying and testing every combination.
Even, when you are using brute forces then consider this situation reasonably. As it is would require at least 3*10^51 years to exhaust all the combinations possible by the 256-bit encryption technique.
So, how secure is your data when utilizing 256-bit encryption.
I guess the answer is quite obvious by now. 256-bit encryption is one of the secure encryption systems out there. Now, this system is often utilized by U.S government organizations and banks to perform the transaction. So, these examples should be enough to indicate that this encryption method is reliable and secure.
