What are the differences between various encryption methods?

What are the differences between AES and RSA encryption?

AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a symmetric encryption method, meaning it uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), on the other hand, is an asymmetric encryption method that uses a pair of keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.

Which one is more secure?

Both AES and RSA are considered secure, but they serve different purposes. AES is generally faster and more efficient for encrypting large amounts of data, while RSA is often used for secure key exchange and digital signatures.

Can you explain how the key sizes affect their security?

Yes! In AES, key sizes can be 128, 192, or 256 bits, with longer keys providing stronger security. For RSA, key sizes typically range from 2048 to 4096 bits, with larger keys offering better security against brute-force attacks.

What are some real-world applications of these encryption methods?

AES is widely used in securing data at rest and in transit, such as in VPNs and file encryption. RSA is commonly used in secure communications, like SSL/TLS for websites and email encryption.