{"id":84429,"date":"2018-08-08T09:15:05","date_gmt":"2018-08-08T09:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org?page_id=84429&preview_id=84429"},"modified":"2025-09-10T10:54:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T10:54:39","slug":"what-is-encryption","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/issues\/encryption\/what-is\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Encryption?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Encryption<\/a> > What is Encryption<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is Encryption<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Encryption is the process of scrambling or enciphering data so it can be read only by someone with the means to return it to its original state. It is a crucial feature of a safe and trustworthy Internet. It helps provide data security for sensitive information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Encryption is commonly used to protect data stored on computer systems and data transmitted via computer networks, including the Internet. Financial transactions and private messaging communications often use encryption to increase security. Encryption is important when we need to find out whether data has been tampered with (data integrity), to increase people\u2019s confidence that they are communicating with the people they think are communicating with (authentication) and to be sure that messages were sent and received (non-repudiation).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Encryption Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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For data communicated over a network, modern encryption scrambles data using a secret value or key known only by the recipient and the sender. For stored data, the secret value is typically known only by the data owner. There are different types of encryption and the best systems balance safety and efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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End-to-end encryption is any form of encryption in which only the sender and intended recipient can read the message. No third party, even the party providing the communication service, has knowledge of the encryption key. End-to-end encryption is the most secure form of encryption that you can use.<\/div>