Encryption

Encoding data or a message so that it cannot be understood by anyone other than its intended recipient

for protecting users' online activities

Encryption works by encoding “plaintext” into “ciphertext,” typically through the use of cryptographic mathematical models known as algorithms

An encryption key is a piece of information - usually random characters - used by the software algorithm to encrypt data or a message into a form which is unreadable (encryption) and allow the data or message to be made readable again (decryption).

Unencrypted messages are referred to as plaintext messages. Encrypted messages are known as ciphertext.

A simple method of encryption requires the use of a technique known as the Caesar cipher. The cipher works by giving a number value to a key. Each plaintext letter is replaced by a new letter, the one found at the original letter's position in the alphabet plus the value of the key.

For example, a key value of three would change the plaintext message “see you tonight” to the ciphertext message “vhh brx wrqljkw”.