The significance of Encryption in Protecting Data Online
Encryption is the best and one of the strongest security features that scrambles your confidential information into a code that is practically incapable of being accessed or stolen by hackers. Consider for a moment the possibility of sending a secret letter using a code that only you and the person receiving it can decode. This is how encryption functions, except that instead of just messages, emails and even credit card information are transformed into codes.
For instance, consider when you purchase something online and provide your payment information. Encryption makes certain that your credit card number is obscured so that others cannot take advantage of it. The encryption pages on the e-commerce sites have a small lock icon on the address bar of the web browser and the link starts with “https://”. This shows that the data communication is secure.
The encryption technology that we refer to in this example is called Secured Socket Layer encryption SSL, used by e-commerce sites like amazon.com. For example, when you make a payment on the amazon site, the payment information that you fill is routed to the amazon servers through SSL encryption, ensuring your payment information is safe while being transferred. Even if a hacker did intercept the data, all they would see is a bunch of code that makes no sense.
Encryption is highly critical for organizations dealing with sensitive information of their customers such as the healthcare, finance, and government sectors. For example, without encryption, someone can easily steal sensitive information including names, health records, and even details of financial transactions.
One of the strategies that is simple but nonetheless highly effective in protecting sensitive materials and keeping user’s confidence is the use of encryption. Either when a person is surfing the internet, sending an email, or doing any activity over the internet including shopping, encryption protects that person’s private information from unauthorized access.