Secret key, Private Key and Public Key are the common terms in Cryptography, but what’s the difference?
Cryptography is one system which helps to protect information and communications using a certain code to allow one person to receive data which is personally intended for him alone and not for the general public. Its purpose is to make each and every data or information secret, sealed and authentic.
In today’s modern world, cryptography uses unique algorithms or equations to encrypt or decrypt information or data. Here are the different unique algorithms used in cryptography:
1. Secret Key
What is Secret Key in Cryptography?
Secret key is also known as symmetric cryptography because two persons can gain access to a single data by encrypting or decrypting it. There are different kinds of secret key cryptographic algorithm. It includes Data Encryption Standard (DES), triple-strength DES (3DES) Rivest Cipher 2 (RC2) and Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4).
The only issue on secret key, is how does two people communicate on their way of sending data or information via security key without the interruptions from other individuals. Say for example, when a person sends the code via telephone, email, or via communication app, how sure is the sender that the receiver is the person who is intended to read such code. What if you send it to a dummy account, then that person who uses it might have access to the information and data you are sharing,
Secret key is a great tool only if they are sent to the right person and not the wrong one.
2. Private key
What are these Private Keys in cryptography?
They are similar to a secret key, wherein two individuals share an information using the same code to unlock such. When compare to Public key, private key is faster than the latter. In private key cryptography, the code is kept as strictly confidential. However, the only problem with this key is the protection of only one key or code especially when certain individuals also uses private key. There is a possibility that the code or key will be accessed by other individuals and it might be stolen by someone who has interest with the data or information you are sharing. It is advisable to change every now and then the code or private key for such data an information to avoid it from being stolen.
3. Public Key
Public Key is used to encrypt data and information and is shared among individuals and allows someone to send files or messages in an unsecure network. However, a private key is needed to decrypt it. It is also known as asymmetric cryptography. In a public key, any person can have access to it but the private key attached to it can’t be guessed based on awareness of the public key alone. Compared to private key, public key mechanism is slower. They are known in business enterprises. It is used as a business’ address wherein anyone could have access to it.
This key is really common. Before, only the government and its instrumentalities have an access to information or data to protects one’s State. Unfortunately, because we all now uses the internet to access on data and information, we made the lives of the attackers to invade with our privacy and gain access illegally to our country’s secret information. This is an extreme unlawful act, so we should be careful because our files might not be kept or be sent to a wrong recipient.
It doesn’t matter if you are using a secret key, a private key or a public key. The only thing that is important is how someone manages the keys he created. Key Management is the key. One must be diligent in securing any data and should intelligently manage those to avoid data and information form getting stolen or hacked. It should be managed by personnel which can be trusted and will use those keys for what they are intended for. If possible, data and information sent and saved should be deleted when not needed anymore. How about changing the codes or keys, or updating them according to their crypto period? Cryptographic keys can be used for a long period of time or it can be used in a single transaction. There should be a system to ensure that these keys are protected.