What is End to End Encryption? – Explained!

In 2018 alone, more than 600 data breaches were reported, an aspect that did put online user data at considerable risk. The latest studies indicate that anywhere from 43% to 60% of cyber-attacks target small to medium-sized business entities.

There are several data security measures that business entities or tech companies need to put in place in a bid to protect not only their businesses but also the information of their customers. One of the most efficient and effective ways is seeking partnerships with companies that rely on end-to-end encryption (E2EE).

End-to-End Encryption

End-to-end encryption is a current trend whose adoption has surged tremendously. End-to-End encryption is a highly secure communication line that effectively shields third-party groups from accessing data on transit end-to-end-encrypted platforms. The moment you employ end-to-end encrypted technology to send a message or email to someone, anybody monitoring the network cannot see your messages – not the government authorities, law enforcement agencies, not hackers, and not even the firm that aids your communication.

The moment you send or receive a message from a firm that does not use end-to-end encryption, such as Hotmail or Gmail, it means that the firm can quickly get access to the content of your message based on the fact that they hold encryption security keys. However, the end-to-end encrypted security system eliminates this scenario since the service provider or law enforcement agencies or third party devices don’t possess the keys to decrypt user information.

Learn what is advanced encryption standard.

How Does End to End Encryption work?

To comprehend how end-to-end encrypted security systems like WhatsApp security works or to know what does encrypted mean, you may have to look at the diagram below to further know is Whatsapp encrypted encryption ensures or any other software which claims encryption like WhatsApp Encryption. Let’s assume that Bob intends to say hello to his friend, Alice, but in private messages. Alice does possess access to both the public key and cryptographic keys. While the public key can be easily shared or used with anyone for encrypted communication, only Alice has got the secret key in messaging apps.

In the first place, Bob will use Alice’s public key as a means of encrypting his message or messages to her. He will turn “Hello Alice” to become something referred to as ciphertext. A ciphertext or cryptographic key is a scrambled and seemingly scattered/random character in messages both for the sender and recipient.

While sending his end-to-end encrypted message using the public internet to maintain his privacy, it passes through multiple servers, including those of the ISP or email service they are using. Even though such firms may attempt like law enforcement one to decipher encrypted messages and read Bob’s message (or also share them with other third-party groups), such firms can’t make the ciphertext readable and read the decrypted messages.

Only Alice can achieve ultimate security and privacy to get rid of law enforcement or third parties such as using her private key the moment Bob’s messages hit her inbox in her instant messaging app. This is because Alice is the only person with the possession of the private key -the key to unlock the messages. If Alice replies to Bob, then the whole process repeats itself, where Alice encrypts messages intended to Bob while using Bob’s key.

Read about a military-grade VPN encryption.

Advantages and Challenges

Without a doubt, there are plenty of advantages that accompany the use of end-to-end encryption services one as opposed to conventional encryption security services that a lot of privacy companies used. While the benefits are a bit many, some of the most common ones include:

• It ensures that your data is safe from hackers – End-to-End encryption will see few parties gaining access to your unencrypted data. Better yet, if bad actors interfere with the server where your private data is stored, it will be impossible for them to decrypt your online info since they have no possession of decryption keys, as you are using end-to-end encrypted platform
• Your data is kept private and confidential– Are you fond of using Gmail? If so, Google can capture all the intimate details that you put or write in your emails, credit card details, etc. Still, it can easily save all your emails and delete them. But again, E2E encryption puts you in privacy control over who everyone gets to read your messages and you can get benefit from the privacy of encryption.
• It’s ideal for democracy– all of us have a right to freedom. End-to-End encryption does work best in protecting free speech while shielding dissidents, activists, and journalists from instances of intimidation and law enforcement or third party agencies peaking into your private data and decrypts messages sent to you and never leave your device

Despite the challenges that come with End-to-End encryption, there are a few challenges associated with this key one type of service. Even though E2E(End to End Encryption) protects information or key that are transmitted from one person to the other, sadly, it doesn’t sufficiently shield those endpoints.

For example, while your email employs end-to-end encryption while sending messages, that does not mean that a hacker or any other person with bad intentions cannot try to access the endpoint, which is your inbox in this case.

Learn about apps that offer topnotch encryption.

Why HTTPS is not truly enough

There are certain limitations associated with HTTPS, even though business entities across the globe feel that it is a positive development. With HTTPS, bad actors with ill intentions can make fraudulent sites that appear secure; an aspect tricks users to try them, believing that they are protected and safe to log in using their details.

While HTTPS makes it appear as if the data is encrypted, in the real sense, it ignores what happens to the user the moment HTTPS gets terminated. Additionally, HTTPS is blamed for leaving out the encryption of data or any other information at rest, an aspect that impacts the security that exists at the two ends of communication or transmission.

You may be using HTTPS, thinking that you are safe, but you can’t confidently say that you are encrypting your data. The only way to achieve this is to resort to end-to-end encryption services since it secures everything from the sender to the receiver.

Conclusion

There seems to be no end in sight when it comes to breaches. In fact, we are bound to see a surge in data breaches over the years to follow. People’s private information will continue to be subjected to constant leaks, an aspect that could lead to even more damaging effects. However, not all is lost, though. With end-to-end encryption, you can keep your data and every other private information safe and secure from unauthorized parties.

PureVPN offers state-of-the-art AES 256-bit end-to-end encryption that secures your online data against all forms of cyberattacks. Even if your online connection were to get tapped, all the hacker would get is gibberish information which is of no use to anyone on this planet. Maybe the aliens will find it interesting, who’s to know.

With end-to-end encryption, anybody else monitoring the network cannot access your private information. Additionally, ISPs cannot profit from you by gathering and selling your data to marketers and advertisers. To be on the safe side, look no further than end-to-end encryption.