Asymmetric Encryption

Asymmetric encryption method makes use of two different but related keys and either key can be used to encrypt or decrypt the message. This method is frequently called as public key encryption. For instance, If Key A is used to encrypt the message, only Key B can decrypt it. Figure given to us shows the example of Asymmetric Encryption.This method has its maximum value when one key is used as a private key (key is kept secret, known to the owner of key pair only) and the other key serves as public key (key is stored in public location, anyone can use it easily).

These algorithms are one way functions. A one way function is simple to calculate in one direction, but complex to compute in opposite direction.

RSA – This is the popular public key encryption mechanism, whose name is derived from Rivest Shamir Adleman (developers of algorithms). The RSA algorithm was the 1st popular public key encryption algorithm developed and published for commercial use. It has been implanted in Microsoft’s and Netscape’s web browsers.