What is Encryption Key?
| Encryption Keys |
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A key is one of the basic elements in encryption, and is used in conjunction with an algorithm to determine how the communication is encrypted. Algorithms provide a framework for the encryption - define a process and its range of possible outcomes - but the key determines which of these possibilities is the actual result on a particular occasion. For two encryptors to communicate successfully, the same key must be used for both encryption and decryption. Most cryptographic systems use the same algorithm for all the communications they protect, and if the same key is used as well, then the same message will give exactly the same ciphertext each time. For this reason, it is better to change keys frequently. Most modern encryptors use two separate keys to protect different parts of a secure communication. The main body of the communication is protected by traffic keys, which are different each time and are usually generated by each unit and sent to the other encryptor when the secure link is established. Traffic keys are generated by each unit and exchanged securely, using an initial secure session protected by the other key, a "key encrypting key", which is already shared by both units. |
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