Private Keys Vs Public Keys

In the field of cryptography, terms such as private keys and public keys are utilized. These keys are utilized in the process of encrypting and decrypting sensitive information. Asymmetric cryptography, which is another name for public key cryptography, is built on top of a foundation of public and private keys. In cryptography using public keys, there is only one private key that corresponds to each public key. Encryption and decryption of messages are both possible with their combined use. When you encrypt a message with a person’s public key, that person can only decode it with their corresponding private key. In this article, let us try to understand What are Private and Public Keys?

What Is the Meaning of a Private Key?

First things first: let’s talk about what a key is before we get into the difference between public and private terms. The term “key” refers to a string of bits that have been generated at random and are used in cryptography to scramble and unscramble data. The generation of keys takes place within algorithms, which ensures that each key is unpredictable and completely one of a kind. The key is going to be more difficult to crack if it has more bits in it.

Therefore, in the context of Encryption and decryption, a private key is a key that is utilized both for the purpose of Encryption and decryption. Encryption and decryption operations are performed using the private key, which is used by both the sender and the receiver.

The algorithm used to encrypt data is the inverse of the algorithm used to decrypt data. Therefore, in order to “crack” the code, the algorithm for decryption would use division and subtraction if the encryption algorithm was created with multiplication and addition.

Because it is the only key that can be copied and shared with another user to decode the cipher that was sent, private keys are also referred to as “symmetric” keys.

What Do You Mean by a Public Key?

To protect the confidentiality of data transmission, an encryption method known as a public key pair employs a combination of a private key and a public key. First, the plain text is encrypted using the public key, which transforms it into ciphertext. Next, the recipient’s private key is utilized to decrypt the ciphertext that was generated, which enables the recipient to read the message.

The public is given the key that has been appropriately labeled as public, and the receiver is given the key that has been labeled as private. Asymmetric cryptography refers to the practice of encrypting data using public keys.

Looking up a company’s address on the internet is an analogy that some people use to describe the process of using public keys. That data is readily available for anyone to look up and distribute in any manner they see fit. A private key is associated with each public key and vice versa. Using the example of the company address as an analogy, the private key is analogous to the key to the front door of the company. Because the address (the public key) can be located with relative ease, the general public is aware of the location of the company. However, in order to enter the building, one must first possess a key to the front door, also known as a private key.

What Are Private and Public Keys, and how does Encryption work?

The public key encryption method is a method for encrypting data that makes use of a set of public and private keys to ensure the confidentiality and safety of data transmission. The plain text is first encrypted with the help of the public key, which was produced by an algorithm. The resulting ciphertext can then be read. After the message has been delivered, the recipient will be able to read it because the private key will have already been used to decrypt the ciphertext.

On the other hand, when using private key Encryption, the sender is the one who encrypts the data using the secret key and the corresponding algorithm. The message is decrypted by the receiver by employing the same key and algorithm that were used to encrypt it. The algorithm that is used in the process of Encryption is the opposite of the algorithm that is used in the process of decryption.

How to Create a Public Key and a Private Key 

The generation of public and private keys can be accomplished through the use of a variety of mathematical algorithms. The following are three of the most well-known and highly regarded algorithms:

• Digital Signature Standard (DSS): This algorithm is a Federal Information Processing Standard that specifies the algorithms that can be employed to generate digital signatures used by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. DSS was given its name because it is a part of the Digital Signature Standard (NIST).
• Elliptic curve cryptography, also known as ECC, is a type of cryptography that generates keys with the help of elliptic curves. This type of cryptography is typically utilized for digital signatures and key agreements.
• Rivest-Shamir-Adelman is abbreviated as RSA. The public-private key cryptography system that uses this algorithm is the one with the longest history. The transmission of shared keys in symmetric key cryptography is a common application of this technique. The fact that it is so difficult to determine the prime factors of a composite number is one of the reasons RSA is so highly regarded.

Some more differences between a Private and a Public Key

People use Encryption with public keys for the following reasons:

• The technologies of blockchain and cryptography, such as the creation of a new cryptocurrency wallet, which requires the generation of a pair of keys,
• The process of producing a digital signature using software for operating systems such as Red Hat Linux or Ubuntu
• Encrypting electronic mail in order to maintain the privacy of its contents
• A protocol known as a secure socket layer (SSL) used to encrypt and protect connections to websites.
• In addition, private key Encryption can be utilized for the aforementioned applications; however, it is particularly well-suited for the management of cryptocurrency transactions. The management of large amounts of text can also be accomplished using private keys.