Symmetric-Key Cryptographic Algorithm
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A Symmetric-Key Cryptographic Algorithm is a cryptographic algorithm that uses the same cryptographic key for both data encryption and data decryption.
- Context:
- It can be contrasted with an Asymmetric-Key Algorithm, which uses a pair of keys for encryption and decryption.
- It can be utilized in various Cryptography tasks such as Data Encryption, Data Decryption, and Secure Data Transmission.
- It can be faster and more efficient than Asymmetric-Key Algorithms for certain tasks.
- It can range from being a Stream Cipher to being a Block Cipher.
- It can be vulnerable to certain attacks if the key is not properly managed or kept secret.
- It can be an essential component in Cryptographic Protocols for securing Network Communication.
- It can require the secure exchange of the key between the parties involved before it can be used.
- It can be implemented in various Cryptographic Systems and Software Applications.
- ...
- Example(s):
- Counter-Example(s):
- an Asymmetric-Key Algorithm, such as RSA algorithm or an Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) Algorithm.
- See: Cryptography, Encryption Key, Cryptographic Security, Key Management, Cryptanalysis.
References
2023
- (Wikipedia, 2023) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symmetric-key_algorithm Retrieved:2023-11-27.
- A symmetric-key algorithm uses the same Cryptographic Key for both encryption of plaintext and decryption of ciphertext. The keys may be identical or there may be a simple transformation to go between the two keys. The keys, in practice, represent a shared secret between two or more parties that can be used to maintain a private information link. This requirement that both parties have access to the secret key is one of the main drawbacks of symmetric key encryption, in comparison to public-key (asymmetric) encryption.