{"id":248497,"date":"2026-11-14T00:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-11-14T00:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/"},"modified":"2026-11-14T00:00:26","modified_gmt":"2026-11-14T00:00:26","slug":"encryption-decryption-techniques","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/","title":{"rendered":"Encryption and Decryption Techniques: Methods and Use Cases"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"336cb5b64765e27a1a6c1bb71b941f1a\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:10px 0 10px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4830628043307652\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- above content -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-4830628043307652\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"5864845439\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>Encryption scrambles readable data into ciphertext with a key. Decryption reverses it with the matching key. Almost every technique falls into one of three families: symmetric (one shared key), asymmetric (a public and private key pair) or hybrid (both together). The technique matters less than how you handle the keys. Most real-world failures come from keys that are stored badly, shared carelessly or never rotated. If you want the key handling taken off your hands, a password manager with encrypted storage, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LogMeOnce<\/a>, is built for exactly that job.<\/p>\n<div data-blg-cta=\"after_tldr\" data-blg-cta-layout=\"banner\" style=\"margin:28px 0;font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif\">\n<div style=\"border-radius:26px;padding:min(22px,3.2vw)\">\n<div style=\"background:#ffffff;border-radius:18px;overflow:hidden\">\n<div style=\"padding:34px 30px;text-align:center\">\n<div style=\"margin:0 0 18px\"><span style=\"max-width:100%;border-radius:999px;padding:6px 13px;font-size:12px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;line-height:1.3;background:#F47F24;color:#ffffff\">Logmeonce<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"font-size:26px;font-weight:800;line-height:1.2;letter-spacing:-0.01em;color:#1f2937;margin:0\">Keep Sensitive Data Protected<\/div>\n<div style=\"width:56px;height:6px;border-radius:3px;background:#F47F24;margin:12px 0 14px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;color:#64748b;margin:0 0 24px;max-width:44em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\">Explore LogMeOnce resources on password management, encrypted cloud storage, and identity security for individuals and organizations.<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\" style=\"align-items:center;gap:9px;border-radius:10px;font-weight:700;font-size:15px;text-decoration:none;padding:13px 22px 13px 26px;background:#F47F24;color:#ffffff\">Visit<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_77 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#TLDR\" >TL;DR<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#What_encryption_and_decryption_actually_do\" >What encryption and decryption actually do<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#The_main_encryption_techniques\" >The main encryption techniques<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Symmetric_encryption_one_key_for_both_directions\" >Symmetric encryption: one key for both directions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Asymmetric_encryption_a_public_key_and_a_private_key\" >Asymmetric encryption: a public key and a private key<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Hybrid_encryption_how_the_internet_actually_works\" >Hybrid encryption: how the internet actually works<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Comparing_the_common_algorithms\" >Comparing the common algorithms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Encryption_hashing_and_encoding_are_not_the_same_thing\" >Encryption, hashing and encoding are not the same thing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Key_management_where_encryption_succeeds_or_fails\" >Key management: where encryption succeeds or fails<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#A_worked_example\" >A worked example<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Which_technique_fits_which_reader\" >Which technique fits which reader<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Putting_encryption_to_work_with_LogMeOnce\" >Putting encryption to work with LogMeOnce<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Our_perspective\" >Our perspective<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#What_is_the_difference_between_encryption_and_decryption\" >What is the difference between encryption and decryption?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#What_are_the_main_types_of_encryption\" >What are the main types of encryption?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Which_is_faster_AES_or_RSA\" >Which is faster, AES or RSA?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Is_hashing_the_same_as_encryption\" >Is hashing the same as encryption?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Sources\" >Sources<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-decryption-techniques\/#Recommended\" >Recommended<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"tldr\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"TLDR\"><\/span>TL;DR<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Encryption is a reversible transformation of plaintext into ciphertext using a key. Decryption is the same process run backward with the right key.<\/li>\n<li>Symmetric encryption (for example AES) is fast and suits large amounts of data. Asymmetric encryption (for example RSA or ECC) solves key sharing but is slower, so it mostly protects small payloads and key exchange.<\/li>\n<li>Real systems are hybrid: asymmetric methods agree on a key, and a symmetric cipher then does the heavy lifting.<\/li>\n<li>Hashing is not encryption. It is one-way, so it verifies data but cannot give it back.<\/li>\n<li>Strong algorithms are useless with weak key management: generate, store, rotate and destroy keys on purpose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"what-encryption-and-decryption-actually-do\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_encryption_and_decryption_actually_do\"><\/span>What encryption and decryption actually do<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>NIST, the US standards agency, describes encryption as a <a href=\"https:\/\/tsapps.nist.gov\/publication\/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=908084\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">reversible mathematical transformation<\/a> that turns plaintext (readable data) into ciphertext (a random-looking string) using a cryptographic key. Decryption uses the corresponding key to turn the ciphertext back into the original.<\/p>\n<p>Three parts are always present:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Plaintext<\/strong>: the message, file or password you want to protect.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Algorithm (cipher)<\/strong>: the published mathematical procedure that does the scrambling.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key<\/strong>: the secret value that controls the procedure.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The algorithm is usually public on purpose. The Open University explains that a secure cryptosystem should make it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/digital-computing\/network-security\/content-section-4.1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">computationally infeasible<\/a> to work out the plaintext from the ciphertext without the decryption key, even when everyone knows the algorithm. In other words, the secret lives in the key, not in the method. That is why this article spends as much time on keys as on ciphers.<\/p>\n<p>Encryption shows up in more places than most people realize. Apple\u2019s developer documentation lists <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.apple.com\/library\/archive\/documentation\/Security\/Conceptual\/cryptoservices\/CryptographyConcepts\/CryptographyConcepts.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">certificates, digital signatures, secure keychain storage and secure transport of information<\/a> among its use cases. The padlock in your browser, your saved passwords and your encrypted cloud folder all rely on the same ideas.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-main-encryption-techniques\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_main_encryption_techniques\"><\/span>The main encryption techniques<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) groups cryptography into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/information-security\/what-is-cryptography\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">symmetric-key and asymmetric-key systems, key management and hash functions<\/a>. Here is what each means in practice.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"symmetric-encryption-one-key-for-both-directions\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Symmetric_encryption_one_key_for_both_directions\"><\/span>Symmetric encryption: one key for both directions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In symmetric encryption the same key locks and unlocks the data. It is fast and efficient, which makes it the standard choice for encrypting files, disks, databases and the bulk of network traffic.<\/p>\n<p>The catch is distribution. If you and a colleague both need the key, you must get it to them without anyone else seeing it. Every extra person or device that holds the key is one more place it can leak.<\/p>\n<p>Symmetric ciphers come in two designs, as the <a href=\"https:\/\/devguide.owasp.org\/en\/02-foundations\/04-crypto-principles\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">OWASP Developer Guide<\/a> explains:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Block ciphers<\/strong> process data in fixed-size blocks. AES is the best-known example.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stream ciphers<\/strong> process a continuous stream of data. Salsa20 is an example.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For block ciphers, the mode of operation matters as much as the cipher. NIST materials list AES modes including <a href=\"https:\/\/csrc.nist.gov\/CSRC\/media\/Presentations\/nist-lwc-standardization\/images-media\/session1-turan-update-on-nist-lwc-standardization.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">ECB, CBC, CFB, OFB, XTS-AES, CCM and GCM<\/a>. Modes differ in how they chain blocks together. Some, such as GCM and CCM, also check that the data was not altered. We cover this in more depth in our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/aes-gcm-encryption-online\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AES-GCM encryption<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"asymmetric-encryption-a-public-key-and-a-private-key\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Asymmetric_encryption_a_public_key_and_a_private_key\"><\/span>Asymmetric encryption: a public key and a private key<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Asymmetric (public-key) encryption uses two mathematically related keys. Apple\u2019s documentation notes that the <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.apple.com\/library\/archive\/documentation\/Security\/Conceptual\/cryptoservices\/CryptographyConcepts\/CryptographyConcepts.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">public key may be distributed openly while the private key remains secret<\/a>. Anyone can encrypt a message to you with your public key, but only your private key can decrypt it.<\/p>\n<p>This removes the key-sharing problem. It also supports authentication: a message signed with your private key can be checked by anyone holding your public key. The Electronic Frontier Foundation\u2019s guide points out the trade-off: asymmetric methods are <a href=\"https:\/\/ssd.eff.org\/module\/key-concepts-encryption\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">substantially slower<\/a>, so they fit small payloads and key establishment better than bulk data.<\/p>\n<p>Common asymmetric algorithms are RSA and elliptic-curve cryptography (ECC). ISO notes that ECC can offer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/information-security\/what-is-cryptography\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">smaller, faster and more efficient keys<\/a>. For a deeper walkthrough, see our page on <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/assymmetric-key-encryption\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">asymmetric key encryption<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There is one more risk to understand. If an attacker swaps in their own public key, you would encrypt to the wrong person. The EFF explains that <a href=\"https:\/\/ssd.eff.org\/module\/key-concepts-encryption\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">key fingerprints and website security certificates<\/a> exist to let you verify whose key you are holding.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.babylovegrowth.ai\/blog-images\/organization-6456\/1794506571570_Asymmetric-encryption-a-public-key-and-a-private-key.jpeg\" alt=\"Asymmetric encryption: a public key and a private key\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"hybrid-encryption-how-the-internet-actually-works\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hybrid_encryption_how_the_internet_actually_works\"><\/span>Hybrid encryption: how the internet actually works<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most secure connections combine the two. The slow asymmetric step is used briefly to agree on or deliver a fresh symmetric key. Then the fast symmetric cipher encrypts everything that follows. You get the convenience of public keys and the speed of shared keys.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.babylovegrowth.ai\/blog-images\/organization-6456\/1794506613018_Two-stages-of-hybrid-encryption.jpeg\" alt=\"Two stages of hybrid encryption\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p>This answers a question people often ask: which is faster, AES or RSA? AES, by a wide margin. They are not rivals, though. They do different jobs in the same system.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"comparing-the-common-algorithms\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comparing_the_common_algorithms\"><\/span>Comparing the common algorithms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Technique<\/th>\n<th>Type<\/th>\n<th>Keys<\/th>\n<th>Typical use<\/th>\n<th>Main trade-off<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>AES<\/td>\n<td>Symmetric block cipher<\/td>\n<td>One shared key<\/td>\n<td>Files, disks, databases, network traffic<\/td>\n<td>Key must be shared and protected<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>DES<\/td>\n<td>Symmetric block cipher<\/td>\n<td>One shared key<\/td>\n<td>Legacy systems<\/td>\n<td>Obsolete; migrate to current algorithms<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Stream ciphers (e.g., Salsa20)<\/td>\n<td>Symmetric stream cipher<\/td>\n<td>One shared key<\/td>\n<td>Continuous data streams<\/td>\n<td>Same key-sharing issue as other symmetric ciphers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>RSA<\/td>\n<td>Asymmetric<\/td>\n<td>Public and private pair<\/td>\n<td>Key exchange, digital signatures<\/td>\n<td>Slower; larger keys<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>ECC<\/td>\n<td>Asymmetric<\/td>\n<td>Public and private pair<\/td>\n<td>Key exchange, signatures, constrained devices<\/td>\n<td>Newer and less universally familiar than RSA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hash functions<\/td>\n<td>One-way<\/td>\n<td>None<\/td>\n<td>Integrity checks, signatures, checksums<\/td>\n<td>Cannot be reversed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>ISO names <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/information-security\/what-is-cryptography\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">DES and AES as symmetric examples and RSA and ECC as asymmetric examples<\/a>. NIST adds that AES is <a href=\"https:\/\/tsapps.nist.gov\/publication\/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=908084\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">widely supported in current systems and software<\/a>, and that AES-192 gives stronger protection than AES-128 because it has more possible key values. The same NIST publication recommends moving data protected by obsolete algorithms to current NIST-approved ones. If you still depend on an old cipher, treat migration as a project with an owner and a date.<\/p>\n<p>Stronger is not automatically better in every setting. Apple\u2019s documentation observes that more complex encryption can take longer and require <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.apple.com\/library\/archive\/documentation\/Security\/Conceptual\/cryptoservices\/CryptographyConcepts\/CryptographyConcepts.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">keys too large to store easily<\/a>, so strength has to be balanced against usability. For a ranked comparison, read our overview of the <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/best-encryption-algorithms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">best encryption algorithms<\/a>, and for a broader tour of families see <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/different-types-of-encryption\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">different types of encryption<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"encryption-hashing-and-encoding-are-not-the-same-thing\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Encryption_hashing_and_encoding_are_not_the_same_thing\"><\/span>Encryption, hashing and encoding are not the same thing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>These three get confused constantly, and the mix-up causes real security mistakes.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Encryption<\/strong> is reversible with the right key. Use it when you need the original data back.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hashing<\/strong> maps input of any length to a fixed-length digest and is designed to be one-way. ISO lists <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/information-security\/what-is-cryptography\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">digital signatures, message authentication codes and checksums<\/a> among its applications. Use it to verify that something has not changed, or to check a value without storing it in readable form.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Encoding<\/strong> (such as Base64) only changes the format of data so systems can handle it. It uses no secret, so it protects nothing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The practical rule: if you must be able to recover the data, encrypt it. If you only need to confirm it matches, hash it. Never treat encoding as protection.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"key-management-where-encryption-succeeds-or-fails\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_management_where_encryption_succeeds_or_fails\"><\/span>Key management: where encryption succeeds or fails<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>ISO is blunt on this point: weak key management <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/information-security\/what-is-cryptography\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">weakens the protection of encrypted data<\/a>, and it describes a lifecycle of generation, exchange or distribution, storage, use, safe destruction and replacement. The OWASP Key Management Cheat Sheet turns that lifecycle into <a href=\"https:\/\/cheatsheetseries.owasp.org\/cheatsheets\/Key_Management_Cheat_Sheet.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">concrete practice<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Generate keys in a compliant cryptographic module<\/strong>, using its random-bit generator. Keys you invent by hand, or derive from a memorable phrase alone, are predictable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transport keys over secure channels<\/strong> when they must move.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use each key for one purpose.<\/strong> A key that encrypts data should not also sign documents.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Store keys in a protected cryptographic vault<\/strong>, never in source code, shared documents or chat messages.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Back up keys when recovery is required.<\/strong> A lost key means permanently unreadable data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Set a risk-based cryptoperiod and rotate keys<\/strong> on that schedule.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Destroy secret and private-key copies<\/strong> when they are no longer needed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Document the lifecycle<\/strong>, including what happens after a compromise.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The older US standard for financial institutions, <a href=\"https:\/\/nvlpubs.nist.gov\/nistpubs\/Legacy\/FIPS\/fipspub171.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">FIPS 171<\/a>, reached the same conclusions decades ago. It calls for keys to be randomly generated, and distributed, stored and destroyed or archived in a secure, controlled and auditable way. It also asks for tamper-resistant storage, dual control and accountability. These ideas still describe a sound key program.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"a-worked-example\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_worked_example\"><\/span>A worked example<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Imagine a 40-person company that encrypts customer files with AES. The cipher is fine. But the key sits in a shared spreadsheet, six former employees still have access, and it has never changed. Anyone with that spreadsheet can decrypt everything, so the encryption adds little. Fixing it means generating a new key properly, storing it in a vault with access limited to named people, rotating it on a schedule, and destroying old copies. None of those steps involves a better algorithm.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"which-technique-fits-which-reader\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_technique_fits_which_reader\"><\/span>Which technique fits which reader<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Individuals and families.<\/strong> You do not need to choose ciphers. You need your passwords, documents and cloud files encrypted by tools that handle keys for you, and a strong master password that only you know. Pair that with monitoring so you hear about exposed credentials early.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Small and medium businesses.<\/strong> Your biggest risk is key and credential sprawl: shared logins, shared keys, departing staff. Centralize secrets, give each person their own access, and remove it when they leave.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Large enterprises.<\/strong> Scale brings more systems, more keys and audit requirements. A documented key lifecycle, role-based access and a plan to retire obsolete algorithms matter most. Our overview of <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/key-encryption-methods-enterprise-data-protection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">key encryption methods for enterprise data protection<\/a> goes further.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Government agencies.<\/strong> Rely on NIST-approved algorithms and the documented practices in the sources above, and keep key handling auditable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Managed service providers.<\/strong> You hold secrets for many clients. Separate each client\u2019s keys and credentials, and make sure every technician\u2019s access can be traced and revoked.<\/p>\n<p>For developers choosing ciphers in code, our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encrypt-decrypt-algorithm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">encryption algorithms for developers<\/a> explains why authenticated modes beat legacy ciphers.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"putting-encryption-to-work-with-logmeonce\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Putting_encryption_to_work_with_LogMeOnce\"><\/span>Putting encryption to work with LogMeOnce<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Understanding the techniques is the easy part. Running them every day, across passwords, files and teams, is where people slip. LogMeOnce offers a <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/password-manager\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">password manager<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/cloud-storage-encryption\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cloud storage encryption<\/a> and passwordless multi-factor authentication so that protection does not depend on remembering anything.<\/p>\n<p>For individuals, the published plans are Premium at $0 per month, Professional at $2.50 per month, Ultimate at $3.25 per month and Family at $4.99 per month. Dark Web Monitoring is $1.67 per month. For organizations, Teams is $4.00 per month per user and Business is $7.99 per month per user, with Enterprise available on request. Compare them on the <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/pricing-and-comparison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pricing page<\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/business-pricing-and-comparison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business pricing page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/csuxjmfbwmkxiegfpljm.supabase.co\/storage\/v1\/object\/public\/blog-images\/organization-6456\/1760417791460_logmeonce.jpg\" alt=\"Logmeonce\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"our-perspective\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Our_perspective\"><\/span>Our perspective<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Every week people ask us which cipher is best. It is a fair question, but it is rarely the one that decides whether their data stays private.<\/p>\n<p>The mainstream algorithms are well understood and widely available. What differs from one person or company to the next is the human layer: where the key lives, who can reach it, and whether anyone remembers to rotate it. That is why we build around the full picture: a password manager, encrypted cloud storage, passwordless multi-factor authentication and dark web monitoring working together.<\/p>\n<p>Our view is simple. Strong encryption should be the default, not a project. When the tool handles the routine work, people actually use it, and that is when the math protects them.<\/p>\n<p><em>Mike<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"faq\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"what-is-the-difference-between-encryption-and-decryption\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_difference_between_encryption_and_decryption\"><\/span>What is the difference between encryption and decryption?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Encryption converts readable plaintext into unreadable ciphertext using a key. Decryption converts the ciphertext back into plaintext using the corresponding key. They are two directions of the same reversible process, as <a href=\"https:\/\/tsapps.nist.gov\/publication\/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=908084\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">NIST describes it<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"what-are-the-main-types-of-encryption\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_main_types_of_encryption\"><\/span>What are the main types of encryption?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The two core types are symmetric, where one key does both jobs, and asymmetric, where a public key encrypts and a private key decrypts. Hybrid systems combine them. Within symmetric encryption, ciphers are either <a href=\"https:\/\/devguide.owasp.org\/en\/02-foundations\/04-crypto-principles\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">block or stream ciphers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"which-is-faster-aes-or-rsa\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_is_faster_AES_or_RSA\"><\/span>Which is faster, AES or RSA?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>AES is much faster because it is symmetric. RSA and other asymmetric methods are <a href=\"https:\/\/ssd.eff.org\/module\/key-concepts-encryption\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">substantially slower<\/a>, so they are used for small items such as exchanging a key. The AES key then encrypts the actual data.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"is-hashing-the-same-as-encryption\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_hashing_the_same_as_encryption\"><\/span>Is hashing the same as encryption?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. Hashing is designed to be one-way, so you cannot recover the original from the digest. It is used for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/information-security\/what-is-cryptography\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">checksums, signatures and message authentication<\/a>. Encryption is reversible by anyone with the right key.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sources\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sources\"><\/span>Sources<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tsapps.nist.gov\/publication\/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=908084\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Encryption Basics, NIST<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/developer.apple.com\/library\/archive\/documentation\/Security\/Conceptual\/cryptoservices\/CryptographyConcepts\/CryptographyConcepts.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Cryptography Concepts In Depth, Apple Developer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/digital-computing\/network-security\/content-section-4.1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Network security: An introduction to encryption, The Open University<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/information-security\/what-is-cryptography\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">What is cryptography?, ISO<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/devguide.owasp.org\/en\/02-foundations\/04-crypto-principles\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Principles of cryptography, OWASP Developer Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ssd.eff.org\/module\/key-concepts-encryption\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Key Concepts in Encryption, Electronic Frontier Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/csrc.nist.gov\/CSRC\/media\/Presentations\/nist-lwc-standardization\/images-media\/session1-turan-update-on-nist-lwc-standardization.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Update on the NIST Lightweight Cryptography Standardization, NIST<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cheatsheetseries.owasp.org\/cheatsheets\/Key_Management_Cheat_Sheet.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Key Management Cheat Sheet, OWASP<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/nvlpubs.nist.gov\/nistpubs\/Legacy\/FIPS\/fipspub171.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">FIPS Publication 171, NIST<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"recommended\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recommended\"><\/span>Recommended<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encrypt-decrypt-algorithm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Encryption Algorithms for Developers: Choose AEAD Over Legacy Ciphers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/different-types-of-encryption\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What Are Different Types of Encryption and How Do They Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/key-encryption-methods-enterprise-data-protection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">7 Key Encryption Methods Every Enterprise Should Know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/encryption-process\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What Is the Encryption Process?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How encryption and decryption work, how symmetric, asymmetric and hybrid techniques differ, which algorithms to trust, and how to manage keys safely.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":248499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-248497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-logmeonce"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=248497"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248497\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":248498,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248497\/revisions\/248498"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/248499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=248497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=248497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=248497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}