To ensure that data transfer is secure, the computer security systems adopt a mechanism known as encryption. Encryption is the process of converting a plaintext message into ciphertext, where only the person with the decryption key can read the ciphertext. Encryption enforces confidentiality on a computing system, and uses mathematical algorithms to scramble data. The scrambled data, after encryption, is known as ciphertext.

To read an encrypted file, use the decryption or secret key to open the message back into plaintext. This process is known as decryption. The efficiency of encryption depends on your choice of algorithm.

Encryption is vital as information is often sent from one computer to another via a network which can be unsafe if sensitive data is flowing from one device to another. It provides a degree of security, even if the information falls into the wrong hands.

There are two types of encryption:

• Symmetric encryption
• Asymmetric encryption