In the world of cybersecurity, protecting data is a top priority. Hashing, encryption, and decryption are essential tools for keeping information secure, but they serve different purposes. This guide will help you understand each technique, their applications, and why they’re critical to secure systems.
Hashing is the process of converting any input, such as a password or document, into a fixed-length string of characters, often called a "hash value" or just "hash." Hashing is a one-way function, which means you cannot get the original input back from the hash.
How Hashing Works: Hashing algorithms like SHA-256 or MD5 take data as input and produce a unique hash. Even a small change in the input will drastically change the hash output, making it perfect for verifying data integrity.
Use Cases: Hashing is often used to store passwords securely. Instead of storing the actual password, systems store its hash, making it more difficult for attackers to access the original passwords if the database is breached.
Example:
Input: “hello123”
SHA-256 Hash:
a4d55a8d778e5022fab701977c5d840bbc486d0b95b9db2a4e33f89d7a4d73b7
prompt = ‘ The message is;
a = input (prompt , ‘s’);
a = lower (a);
l = length (a);
decode = ‘ ‘ ;
secret = 3;
Then we use the Ch functions.
2. Encryption and Decryption: How They Work
Encryption and decryption, unlike hashing, are two-way processes. Encryption changes data into an unreadable format to stop unauthorized access, while decryption converts it back to its original form when accessed by an authorized user.
Encryption: Encryption uses algorithms and keys to turn readable data (plaintext) into unreadable data (cipher text). Only someone with the correct decryption key can change the ciphertext back into plaintext.
Types of Encryption:
Symmetric Encryption: Uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. Common algorithms include AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and DES (Data Encryption Standard).
Asymmetric Encryption: Uses two keys—a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. RSA (Rivest–Shamir–Adleman) is a well-known asymmetric encryption algorithm.
Example:
Input: “hello123”
Symmetric Encryption (AES) might yield:
f48a95c70dc8ef340f58f04b
Common Algorithms
Hashing Algorithms:
MD5 (Message Digest Algorithm 5): Once popular, MD5 is now considered insecure due to its vulnerabilities.
SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit): Widely used today for its strength and reliability.
Encryption Algorithms:
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard): A symmetric algorithm known for its security and efficiency, commonly used in applications.
RSA: An asymmetric encryption algorithm ideal for secure communication and digital signatures.
When to Use Hashing vs. Encryption
Use Hashing: When you need a one-way transformation, such as verifying passwords or ensuring data integrity.
Use Encryption: When you need confidentiality and plan to reverse the data, like in data transmission or file encryption.