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Simple English definitions for legal terms
public-key encryption
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A quick definition of public-key encryption:
Public-key encryption is a way to keep information safe when it is sent over the internet. It uses a special code called a key to scramble the information so that only the person who is supposed to receive it can read it. There are two keys: one that is public and can be shared with anyone, and one that is private and only the sender knows. The public key is used to scramble the information, and the private key is used to unscramble it. This way, even if someone intercepts the information, they won't be able to read it without the private key.
A more thorough explanation:
Public-key encryption is a type of software-cryptography system that uses a secure key pair to verify a digital signature and decode a secure, coded document. The key pair consists of a public key and a private key.
The public key is known to all possible receivers of a message, while the private key is only known to the message's sender. When a message is sent, key encryption transforms the message's characters into an indecipherable "hash." A person who has the signer's public key can decipher the message and detect whether it has been altered and whether it was transmitted using the sender's private key. However, it does not necessarily identify the sender; identity is verified using a digital certificate.
Imagine you want to send a secret message to your friend. You use public-key encryption to create a key pair, consisting of a public key and a private key. You keep the private key secret and give the public key to your friend.
You then use the public key to encrypt your message, transforming it into an indecipherable "hash." Your friend receives the message and uses their private key to decrypt it, revealing the original message. This way, only your friend can read the message, and no one else can decipher it.