1. What is cryptography ?
Cryptography is the science of using mathematics to encrypt and decrypt data. Cryptography enables you to store sensitive information or transmit it across insecure networks (like the Internet) so that it cannot be read by anyone except the intended recipient.
2. How does cryptography work?
A cryptographic algorithm, or cipher, is a mathematical function used in the
encryption and decryption process. A cryptographic algorithm works in
combinationwith a keyùaword, number, or phraseùto encrypt the plaintext.
The same plaintext encrypts to different ciphertext with different keys. The
security of encrypted data is entirely dependent on two things: the strength of
the cryptographic algorithm and the secrecy of the key.
3. What is Public key cryptography ?
Public key cryptography is an asymmetric scheme that uses a pair of keys for
encryption: a public key, which encrypts data, and a corresponding private key
(secret key) for decryption. You publish your public key to the world while
keeping your private key secret.Anyonewith a copy of your public key can then
encrypt information that only you can read. Even people you have never met.
4. How SecureFile works ?
SecureFile combines some of the best features of both conventional ( Symmetric) and public key ( Asymmetric) cryptography.
When a user encrypts data with SecureFile, SecureFile first compresses the data.
Data compression saves modem transmission time and disk space and, more importantly, strengthens cryptographic security. Most crypt analysis techniques exploit patterns found in the plaintext to crack the cipher. Compression reduces these patterns in the plaintext, thereby greatly enhancing resistance to cryptanalysis. (Files that are too short to compress or which do not compress well are not compressed.)
In conventional cryptography, also called secret-key or symmetric-key encryption, one key is used both for encryption and decryption. The Blowfish is an example of a conventional crypto system .
In Asymmetric (Certificate based) cryptography SecureFile creates a session key, which is a one-time-only secret key. This key is a randomly generated . The session key works with a very secure, fast conventional encryption algorithm to encrypt the plaintext; the result is ciphertext. Once the data is encrypted, the session key is then encrypted to the recipientÆs public key. This public key-encrypted session key is transmitted along with the ciphertext to the recipient.
Finally it creates a self-decryption archive which can be decrypted at the other end without any dependencies.