Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Resolved Question

What is encryption key?

by Apr 8, 2015 3:54PM PDT

When I encrypted a file or a folder in my computer, is my login password an encryption key that allows me to open the encrypted files after logging in? Is this the preventive measure that the person who steals my computer and starts it in safe mode will be denied access to this encrypted files? If I do online banking on a secure site, how is the key created and how the bank gets the key to decrypts the information I send them? Please help me to understand this concept.

Discussion is locked

nkalett has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
4 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details

Best Answer

- Collapse -
Basically, The Key is a Password Created To Open Those Files
by Forum moderator Apr 9, 2015 8:45AM PDT

The login password/key can be set as the encryption key for files on your computer but usually, it's a separate password from your login password.

On an online banking site, files are encrypted so they can't be seen without your key/password. It's as simple as that.

As to the actual method of encrypting data, or creating a cipher for information, see the link below. Other such explanations can be found on the web by simply typing: "What is encryption" into Google or any other search engine.:

http://lifehacker.com/a-beginners-guide-to-encryption-what-it-is-and-how-to-1508196946

Hope this helps.

Grif

- Collapse -
Appreciation
by nkalett Apr 10, 2015 12:24AM PDT

Thanks so much Grif, for all the time and effort it took you to help me and many others.

- Collapse -
Answer
how encryption works
by Apr 9, 2015 4:14PM PDT

The Public and Private key pair comprise of two uniquely related cryptographic keys (basically long random numbers). Below is an example of a Public Key:

3048 0241 00C9 18FA CF8D EB2D EFD5 FD37 89B9 E069 EA97 FC20 5E35 F577 EE31 C4FB C6E4 4811 7D86 BC8F BAFA 362F 922B F01B 2F40 C744 2654 C0DD 2881 D673 CA2B 4003 C266 E2CD CB02 0301 0001

The Public Key is what its name suggests - Public. It is made available to everyone via a publicly accessible repository or directory. On the other hand, the Private Key must remain confidential to its respective owner.

Because the key pair is mathematically related, whatever is encrypted with a Public Key may only be decrypted by its corresponding Private Key and vice versa.

For example, if Bob wants to send sensitive data to Alice, and wants to be sure that only Alice may be able to read it, he will encrypt the data with Alice's Public Key. Only Alice has access to her corresponding Private Key and as a result is the only person with the capability of decrypting the encrypted data back into its original form.

As only Alice has access to her Private Key, it is possible that only Alice can decrypt the encrypted data. Even if someone else gains access to the encrypted data, it will remain confidential as they should not have access to Alice's Private Key.

- Collapse -
Answer
Thank you
by Apr 10, 2015 12:27AM PDT

Highly appreciated. Thanks for your time. It really helped me.

Back to Computer Help forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info