Encryption and Hashing are two methods used to protect data in the digital world. Whether you’re a business owner looking to secure your customer’s information, or an individual concerned about the security of your data, understanding the differences between Encryption and Hashing is essential.
Therefore, in this blog post, we will explore the key differences between Encryption and Hashing and discuss how these two methods can get used together to provide robust protection for your data.
How is Encryption different from Hashing?
In today’s digital world, protecting sensitive information is more necessary than ever. Encryption and Hashing are commonly used methods for safeguarding data, but the differences make them suitable for different purposes.
Unlike Encryption, Hashing can not get reversed to restore the original data. Additionally, Encryption protects the confidentiality of data, while Hashing protects the integrity of data.
What is Encryption?
Encryption is a process that uses an algorithm to encode data that someone having the correct decryption key can access. This key decrypts the encrypted data and restores it to its original form.
Encryption protects sensitive information, such as financial transactions or personal communications, from being accessed by unauthorized parties.
What are the types of Encryption?
There are two algorithms of Encryption, namely-
Asymmetric Encryption
Asymmetric Encryption is a method of encrypting data where a different key gets used for Encryption and Decryption. It means that the person who encrypts the data uses one key, and the person who wants to decrypt it uses a different key.
The keys are mathematically related, but they are not feasible to derive one key from the other. It is in contrast to Symmetric Encryption, where the same key gets used for Encryption and Decryption.
Symmetric Encryption
Symmetric Encryption is a method of encrypting data where the same secret key gets used to encrypt and decrypt the data. It means whoever encrypts the data must also know the key to Decrypt it. While in Asymmetric Encryption, different keys get used for Encryption and Decryption.
Whereas the types of Encryption are-
Triple DES
The Triple Data Encryption Standard (DES), known as 3DES, is a version of the DES Encryption algorithm that encrypts data thrice. The 3DES uses three 64-bit keys and refers to a Symmetric Encryption where the key is private. It encrypts data in 64-bit segments, and 3DES is a block cipher.
Blowfish
Blowfish is a symmetric block cipher similar to 3DES and provides variable-length key Encryption. It encrypts elements varying from 32 to 448 bits. Blowfish is an unpatented and unlicensed encryption technique which is why it is free and available for public use.
RSA
The RSA Encryption key is an Encryption technique for important data security. RSA is Asymmetric Encryption that uses one public key and one private key. Even for large computers, RSA is costly and comprehensive to decrypt.
AES - Advanced Encryption Standard
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) came into use in 2002. It is a symmetric block cipher that uses three separate keys: AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256. These keys encrypt and decrypt the information and protect sensitive data.
ECC - Elliptic Curve Cryptography
Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is an advanced type of Encryption. ECC combines curves and number theory to encrypt data since it is a public key algorithm. These curves are symmetrical over the x-axis of a graph.
What is Hashing?
Hashing is a process that takes input data and generates a fixed-length output called a “hash” or “message digest.” Unlike Encryption, Hashing is a one-way process – once the data gets hashed, it can never get restored to its original form.
For instance, Hashing verifies the integrity of data when a password gets stored in a database.
What are the types of Hashing?
There are three types of Hashing, namely-
Message Digest (MD)
These algorithms produce a fixed-length hash value from a message of any length.
Secure Hash Algorithms (SHA)
These algorithms are a family of cryptographic hash functions that produce a hash value of a fixed length from a message of any size.
Tiger
It is a type of hashing designed to be fast and secure. It produces a 192-bit hash value from a message of any length.
Which is more secure- Encryption or Hashing?
Encryption is more secure than Hashing since it provides a way to protect the confidentiality of data and verify its authenticity. Encryption uses a key to encrypt and decrypt data.
Hashing uses a mathematical function to produce a fixed-length hash value from a message. But it does not provide a way to decrypt the original message. Therefore, it fails to protect the confidentiality of data but can verify the integrity and authenticity of the same data.
Wrapping Up!
Encryption and Hashing are necessary for ensuring the security of data. Encryption and Hashing have their strengths and weaknesses, and they get often used together to provide multiple layers of data security.
Undoubtedly, Encryption is more secure than Hashing, but both techniques play their concerned roles in protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data. Therefore, any comments or suggestions are welcome in the box below.
GOOD LUCK!
