Java Cryptography - Keys

A cryptosystem is an implementation of cryptographic techniques and their accompanying infrastructure to provide information security services. A cryptosystem is also referred to as a cipher system.

The various components of a basic cryptosystem are Plaintext, Encryption Algorithm, Ciphertext, Decryption Algorithm, Encryption Key and, Decryption Key.

Where,

Encryption Key is a value that is known to the sender. The sender inputs the encryption key into the encryption algorithm along with the plaintext in order to compute the cipher text.

Decryption Key is a value that is known to the receiver. The decryption key is related to the encryption key, but is not always identical to it. The receiver inputs the decryption key into the decryption algorithm along with the cipher text in order to compute the plaintext.

Fundamentally there are two types of keys/cryptosystems based on the type of encryption-decryption algorithms.

Symmetric Key Encryption

The encryption process where same keys are used for encrypting and decrypting the information is known as Symmetric Key Encryption.

The study of symmetric cryptosystems is referred to as symmetric cryptography. Symmetric cryptosystems are also sometimes referred to as secret key cryptosystems.

Following are a few common examples of symmetric key encryption −

Digital Encryption Standard (DES)

Triple-DES (3DES)

IDEA

BLOWFISH

Asymmetric Key Encryption

The encryption process where different keys are used for encrypting and decrypting the information is known as Asymmetric Key Encryption. Though the keys are different, they are mathematically related and hence, retrieving the plaintext by decrypting cipher text is feasible.