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Cryptography · Module 3 of 10

Asymmetric encryption

Use public and private key pairs.

📖 Key ideas

  1. Asymmetric encryption uses a public key and a private key.
  2. Anything encrypted with the public key is decrypted with the private key.
  3. RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) are common.
  4. Slower than symmetric, so used for key exchange and signatures.
  5. Keep private keys secret; share public keys freely.
💡 Real-life example: Asymmetric encryption is a post box: anyone can drop letters in (public key), only the owner can open it (private key).
Public keyShared key for encrypting/verifying
Private keySecret key for decrypting/signing
RSAPopular asymmetric algorithm
ECCElliptic Curve Cryptography