Difference Between Symmetric and Asymmetric Key Encryption - GeeksforGeeks (2024)

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Symmetric Key Encryption: Encryption is a process to change the form of any message in order to protect it from reading by anyone. In Symmetric-key encryption the message is encrypted by using a key and the same key is used to decrypt the message which makes it easy to use but less secure. It also requires a safe method to transfer the key from one party to another.

Asymmetric Key Encryption: Asymmetric Key Encryption is based on public and private key encryption techniques. It uses two different key to encrypt and decrypt the message. It is more secure than the symmetric key encryption technique but is much slower.

Symmetric Key EncryptionAsymmetric Key Encryption
It only requires a single key for both encryption and decryption.It requires two keys, a public key and a private key, one to encrypt and the other one to decrypt.
The size of cipher text is the same or smaller than the original plain text.The size of cipher text is the same or larger than the original plain text.
The encryption process is very fast.The encryption process is slow.
It is used when a large amount of data is required to transfer.It is used to transfer small amounts of data.
It only provides confidentiality.It provides confidentiality, authenticity, and non-repudiation.
The length of key used is 128 or 256 bitsThe length of key used is 2048 or higher
In symmetric key encryption, resource utilization is low as compared to asymmetric key encryption.In asymmetric key encryption, resource utilization is high.
It is efficient as it is used for handling large amount of data.It is comparatively less efficient as it can handle a small amount of data.
Security is less as only one key is used for both encryption and decryption purpose.It is more secure as two keys are used here- one for encryption and the other for decryption.

The Mathematical Representation is as follows-
P = D (K, E(K, P))

where K –> encryption and decryption key
P –> plain text
D –> Decryption
E(K, P) –> Encryption of plain text using K

The Mathematical Representation is as follows-
P = D(Kd, E (Ke,P))
where Ke –> encryption key

Kd –> decryption key
D –> Decryption
E(Ke, P) –> Encryption of plain text using encryption key Ke. P –> plain text

Examples: 3DES, AES, DES and RC4Examples: Diffie-Hellman, ECC, El Gamal, DSA and RSA

Last Updated : 22 May, 2023

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Difference Between Symmetric and Asymmetric Key Encryption - GeeksforGeeks (2024)

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Difference Between Symmetric and Asymmetric Key Encryption - GeeksforGeeks? ›

Enhanced Security: Asymmetric encryption provides a higher level of security compared to symmetric encryption where only one key is used for both encryption and decryption with asymmetric encryption a different key is used for each process and the private key used for decryption is kept secret by the receiver making, ...

What is the difference between asymmetric and symmetric key encryption? ›

Symmetric and asymmetric encryption are two different types of encryption that are used in various applications. Symmetric encryption uses a single key to encrypt and decrypt data, while asymmetric encryption uses two keys, a public key and a private key, to encrypt and decrypt data.

Which of the following is a primary difference between symmetric and asymmetric key cryptography? ›

Symmetric encryption uses the same key to perform both encryption and decryption functions. Symmetric encryption uses a shared private key, while asymmetric encryption uses a public/private key pair.

What is an advantage asymmetric key encryption has over symmetric key encryption? ›

The choice of which algorithm to use depends on the specific use case and the level of security required. Symmetric key algorithms are typically faster and more efficient for encrypting large amounts of data, while asymmetric key algorithms are more secure for transmitting data over a network.

What is the main difference between symmetric key and public key methods of encryption? ›

Symmetric key cryptography relies on a shared key between two parties. Asymmetric key cryptography uses a public-private key pair where one key is used to encrypt and the other to decrypt. Symmetric cryptography is more efficient and therefore more suitable for encrypting/decrypting large volumes of data.

What is the difference between asymmetric and symmetric keys in AWS? ›

Symmetric encryption uses the same secret key to perform both the encryption and decryption processes. Asymmetric encryption, also known as public-key encryption, uses two keys, a public key for encryption and a corresponding private key for decryption.

Is AES asymmetric or symmetric? ›

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a symmetric block cipher chosen by the U.S. government to protect classified information. AES is implemented in software and hardware throughout the world to encrypt sensitive data. It is essential for government computer security, cybersecurity and electronic data protection.

Which is more secure asymmetric or symmetric encryption? ›

Asymmetric Key Encryption: Asymmetric Key Encryption is based on public and private key encryption techniques. It uses two different key to encrypt and decrypt the message. It is more secure than the symmetric key encryption technique but is much slower. It only requires a single key for both encryption and decryption.

Which is the largest disadvantage of symmetric encryption? ›

Key management: The biggest drawback of symmetric key encryption is that both the sender and the receiver must have access to the same key, making key management a challenge. If the key is lost or compromised, all encrypted data is at risk.

What are the main differences between symmetric and asymmetric key cryptography quizlet? ›

Asymmetric encryption is also known as public-key encryption. It uses two different keys to encrypt messages: the public key and the private key. Symmetric encryption is different because it uses only one key to encrypt and decrypt messages.

What is a disadvantage of asymmetric encryption? ›

However, asymmetric encryption also has some disadvantages. It is slower, more complex, and more resource-intensive than symmetric encryption. It is not suitable for encrypting large amounts of data, as it requires more computation and storage space.

What are two 2 drawbacks to using symmetric key encryption? ›

Symmetric key encryption has two drawbacks. The secret has to be communicated in a secure method and there must be a unique secret between each originator and receiver.

Who keeps the private key in asymmetric key cryptography? ›

Explanation: The private key is kept only by the receiver of the message. Its aim is to make sure that only the intended receiver can decipher the message. 3. Which one of the following algorithm is not used in asymmetric-key cryptography?

What are the advantages of asymmetric encryption? ›

The private key simultaneously generates digital signatures and can authenticate itself to other communicating parties. In short, asymmetric encryption allows everyone to access a public key but only decrypt it with the private key. This allows for highly secure data exchange.

What is asymmetric encryption in simple terms? ›

As the name implies, asymmetric encryption is different on each side; the sender and the recipient use two different keys. Asymmetric encryption, also known as public key encryption, uses a public key-private key pairing: data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the private key.

When to use asymmetric encryption? ›

Asymmetric encryption (also known as asymmetric cryptography) allows users to encrypt information using shared keys. You need to send a message across the internet, but you don't want anyone but the intended recipient to see what you've written. Asymmetric encryption can help you achieve that goal.

What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption quizlet? ›

Asymmetric encryption is also known as public-key encryption. It uses two different keys to encrypt messages: the public key and the private key. Symmetric encryption is different because it uses only one key to encrypt and decrypt messages.

What is a difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms quizlet? ›

Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption, it is fast (but more vulnerable), and is used for bulk data transmission. Asymmetric encryption uses different keys for encryption and decryption which makes it slower due to higher computation, and is used for securely exchanging secret keys.

What is the difference between AES and DES? ›

Key Differences Between AES and DES

AES has a fixed block size of 128 bits, while DES operates on a block size of 64 bits. DES uses the Feistel Network structure, while AES is based on the Substitution-Permutation Network.

What is the meaning of asymmetric and symmetric? ›

If you know that symmetrical means that both sides of something are identical, then it should be easy to learn that asymmetrical means the opposite: the two sides are different in some way. Asymmetrical things are irregular and crooked, and don't match up perfectly when folded in half.

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