What are private and public keys in cryptography?

What are private and public keys in cryptography?

Private and public keys are cryptographic keys used in asymmetric encryption. The public key encrypts data, while the private key decrypts it.

How do they work together in secure communications?

In secure communications, the sender encrypts a message with the recipient's public key. Only the recipient can decrypt it using their private key.

Can you give me an example of how this is used in real life?

Sure! One common example is in email encryption, where a sender uses the recipient's public key to send a secure message.

What happens if someone gets access to my private key?

If someone gains access to your private key, they can decrypt your messages and impersonate you, compromising your security.