While encryption is one of the best and most popular online protection tools, it’s not the only
way to shield your data. Take hashing, for example. While it’s similar to encryption, there are
differences in how it works and where it can be used. But what is hashing? And how does it work?
Hashing is a process that transforms your data into a random fixed-length value, using a hash
function. For example, a piece of plain text (a password, for example) can be turned into a
hashed value, making it very hard to decipher.
Hashing is a one-way process that can’t be directly reversed (as opposed to encryption, which
can be decrypted if you have the appropriate decryption key). When companies store user data
(usernames and passwords, let’s say), they can apply hashing algorithms to ensure that the
information stays private, even if they suffer a data breach.
Moreover, hashing ensures the integrity of data. When you send a hashed file to a friend, you
provide a hashed value along with the message. The friend then calculates the hash value — if
the values match, then the file hasn’t been tampered with while in transit.
Hashing is usually used to deal with large amounts of data. It is easy to find the hashed data
as well as avoid data duplication. Hashing is a fast, efficient way to keep huge troves of data
safe and ensure its integrity.
A secure hash algorithm generates hash values, also known as hash functions. The hashing
algorithms provide different hash values for different keys. So one unique input string should
have a unique hash value.
However, in rare cases, keys use identical hash values. This can result in what’s known as a
hash collision.
A defining feature of any hashing algorithm is how collision resistant its hash functions are.
Collision is a hash-function vulnerability that bad actors can potentially exploit, so a good
hashing algorithm should be complex enough to avoid collisions.
which had significant security flaws. While it is still used, it has design flaws, so other
hashing functions are usually preferred. Moreover, its 128-bit strength is not robust enough
for proper protection. It’s also not very resistant to collisions, so it lacks suitability for{‘ ‘} cryptography hashes.
back in 1993. Its original version had many flaws, so SHA has been updated several times. Its
later iterations are now widely used for cryptographic purposes. Due to its sensitive hash
strings, it is considered to be a fairly secure protocol.
hash function. Overall, it performs much better than SHA and BLAKE2 protocols. BLAKE3 is used
for Wireguard, an ultra-fast VPN protocol (for more, read our article on the{‘ ‘} best VPN protocols).
{SHORTCODES.blogRelatedArticles}
Encryption is the process of encoding data using algorithms. Encryption protocols scramble the
data so it becomes undecipherable to anyone except the intended recipient, who has the necessary
key to reverse the decryption process. Unlike hashing, encryption is a two-way process —
information is encrypted and then decrypted when it reaches the intended receiver.
Encryption also secures sensitive data as well as general online traffic. It makes your internet
traffic unreadable to an unauthorized party — if strong cryptography algorithms are implemented
following best practices, they are resistant to cryptanalytic attacks. If you want to learn more
about encryption, check out our article on the{‘ ‘}
best encryption software.
Encryption uses a specific set of rules and instructions, known as algorithms, to convert
original data, or plain text, into ciphertext — an encrypted form of data. You can use
encryption to turn text, messages, or files into ciphertext.
An encryption algorithm also uses a unique piece of information, called the encryption key. This
key determines how the plain text is transformed into ciphertext and vice versa. Encryption keys
can be either symmetric or asymmetric:
The sender and the receiver of data need to have that same key, which should be shared
securely.
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uses asymmetric keys — a public key and a private key. The public key is used to encrypt
information, and the private key is used to decrypt it. In the case of asymmetric encryption,
only the private key must be kept secret.
strengths of both and minimizing their weaknesses.
The ciphertext that you get after the encryption process is done looks like a meaningless jumble
of data, extremely difficult to decipher without a decryption key. But if you possess a proper
decryption key, you can transform the ciphertext back into plain text by applying specific
mathematical operations. Every encryption algorithm has a corresponding decryption algorithm
that reverses the encryption process using a decryption key and restores ciphertext back to the
original plain text.
There are several commonly used encryption algorithms. Here are the most widely applied ones:
used with SSL
/TLS and trusted by government institutions and organizations worldwide. They use this data
encryption standard for personally identifiable information (PII), business data, financial
transactions, and wireless communication because AES is known for being impervious to attacks.
over the internet — messages, digital signatures, login credentials, and key exchange.
shared secret key over an insecure communication channel. You use it with symmetric encryption
algorithms to securely exchange keys. This algorithm is commonly used in VPNs and wireless
networks to secure online traffic and protect the privacy and integrity of the data in
transfer.
algorithm that applies a DES cipher three times with different keys. You use it in older
systems that require compatibility with older encryption standards.
in key sizes and relatively fast encryption and decryption speeds. It’s a flexible encryption
method that businesses use for securing payments, file transfers, and passwords (if you want
to know more about securing your login information, read our post on{‘ ‘} secure passwords
).
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Basically, encryption is the process of scrambling plaintext into unreadable ciphertext, which
you can decrypt with a relevant key, while hashing turns plain text into a unique code, which
can’t be reverted into a readable form.
Hashing is usually used to ensure the integrity of data, primarily when we’re storing large
amounts of it, while encryption is aimed at protecting the privacy of small amounts of data
while in transit.
that the files you get are intact and have not been tampered with.
guarantees the efficiency and security of digital signature schemes.
being compromised. During the user authentication process, a system will compare the
user-entered password’s hashes with its own stored values.
abuses.
when they can receive other data than expected.
essential feature of VPN services and online security in general. For example, if you use
NordVPN’s{‘ ‘} Meshnet feature to access your devices remotely
, your data will be protected by encryption.
{‘ ‘}
is used in instant messaging services to protect the privacy of your conversations.
files so that no one can access them even if they intercept the files in transit.
It is extremely useful on public Wi-Fi networks, which are often popular with{‘ ‘} hackers. For example, VPNs use
encryption to protect data transmitted over the network, so you can use a VPN to{‘ ‘} secure public Wi-Fi.
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