What is the difference between Symmetric Key Cryptographic and Asymmetric Key Cryptography?


Symmetric Key Cryptography

In symmetric key cryptography, an individual key is used for both encryption and decryption. The sender needs the key to encrypt the plaintext and sends the cipher document to the receiver. The receiver used the similar key (or ruleset) to decrypt the message and recover the plaintext. Because an individual key is used for both functions, symmetric key cryptography is also known as symmetric encryption.

Symmetric key cryptography schemes are usually categorized such as stream ciphers or block ciphers. Stream ciphers works on a single bit (byte or computer word) at a time and execute some form of feedback structure so that the key is constantly changing.

Asymmetric cryptography

Asymmetric cryptography uses two keys for encryption and decryption. It depends on the technique of public and private keys. A public key, which is interchanged between higher than one user. Data is decrypted by a private key, which is not transformed. It is slower but more secure. The public key used in this encryption technique is applicable to everyone, but the private key used in it is not revealed.

In asymmetric encryption, a message that is encrypted utilizing a public key can be decrypted by a private key, while if the message is encrypted by a private key can be decrypted by utilizing the public key. Asymmetric encryption is broadly used in dayto- day communication channels, particularly on the internet.

Let us see the comparison between Symmetric Key Cryptography and Asymmetric Key Cryptography.

Symmetric Key Cryptography
Asymmetric Key Cryptography
There is only one key (symmetric key) is used, and the similar key can be used to encrypt and decrypt the message.
There are two different cryptographic keys (asymmetric keys), known as the public and the private keys, are used for encryption and decryption.
It is effective as this technique is recommended for high amounts of text.
It is inefficient as this approach is used only for short messages.
Symmetric encryption is generally used to transmit bulk information.
It is generally used in smaller transactions. It is used for making a secure connection channel before transferring the actual information.
Symmetric key cryptography is also known as secret-key cryptography or private key cryptography.
Asymmetric key cryptography is also known as public-key cryptography or a conventional cryptographic system.
Symmetric key cryptography uses fewer resources as compared to asymmetric key cryptography.
Asymmetric key cryptography uses more resources as compared to symmetric key cryptography.
The length of the keys used is frequently 128 or 256 bits, based on the security need.
The length of the keys is much higher, such as the recommended RSA key size is 2048 bits or higher.

Updated on: 03-Nov-2023

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