Cryptography: Using GPG for Encryption and Key Management
Introduction: Understanding Encryption
In the digital age, data security is of paramount importance. Encryption is a fundamental technique used to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. It involves converting plaintext data into ciphertext using mathematical algorithms and cryptographic keys, rendering it unreadable to anyone without the proper decryption key.
Overview
Lab Objectives:
- Understand the principles of asymmetric encryption.
- Learn how to use PGP to generate key pairs.
- Encrypt a file using PGP and a recipient's public key.
- Decrypt the file using PGP and the recipient's private key.
Courses
Key terms and descriptions
Plaintext
Plaintext refers to the original, unencrypted data or message that is readable and understandable by humans. Encryption transforms plaintext into ciphertext to protect it from unauthorized access.
Ciphertext
Ciphertext is the encrypted form of data or a message. It appears as a jumble of characters and is unreadable without the appropriate decryption key.
Encryption Key
An encryption key is a piece of information used by encryption algorithms to both encrypt and decrypt data. In symmetric encryption, a single key is used for both.
Decryption
Decryption is the process of converting ciphertext back into plaintext using the decryption key. It reverses the encryption process, making the data or message readable again.
Cryptographic Algorithm
A cryptographic algorithm is a set of mathematical rules and procedures used in encryption and decryption. It defines how data is transformed from plaintext to ciphertext and vice versa. Common cryptographic algorithms include AES, RSA, and DES.