What is end-to-end encryption and how does it secure information?

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Awareness in IT

What is Encryption:

Encryption serves as a method to safeguard data against unauthorized access or manipulation.
It functions by converting the data into a confidential code that only the designated recipient can decode. This proves beneficial in numerous scenarios, including securing online correspondence, safeguarding sensitive data, and authenticating digital identities.

Types Of Encryption

Symmetric: This method employs a single key for both encryption and decryption. In symmetric encryption, the key utilized to encode data is identical to the one needed for decoding it.
Asymmetric: Asymmetric encryption relies on a pair of keys- a public key and a private key. The public key can be distributed openly, whereas the private key must remain confidential.

End to End Encryption:

The concept of encryption typically pertains to safeguarding stored data, whereas end-to-end encryption ensures the protection of data during its transmission between locations, particularly in scenarios involving rapid information exchange.
In an application equipped with end-to-end encryption (E2EE), only the individuals at each end—namely, the sender and recipient—have the ability to access exchanged messages.

What are the issues with End-to-end encryption (E2E)?

Compromised endpoints: If either endpoint has been compromised, an attacker may be able to see a message before it is encrypted or after it is decrypted. Attackers could also retrieve keys from compromised endpoints.
Too much privacy: Government and law enforcement agencies express concern that end-to-end encryption can protect people sharing illicit content because service providers are unable to provide law enforcement with access to the content.