Public key cryptography is a type of security used to encrypt and decrypt information sent electronically. How it works may seem complicated to most people, however, the process can be broken down where anyone can understand the general concept. Cryptography uses two different keys, which are the public key and private key. The private key is used to encrypt the information, and the private key is used to decrypt the information. In other words, the private key locks the electronic information and the public key unlocks the electronic information.
How Do People Get a Public Key When You Use Public Key Cryptography?
When you use public key cryptography, you may wonder how other people get a public key to unlock the electronic information you lock with your private key. The first time you send information to another person, they have to access the server where the public key is stored. They fill out their request for the public key and you will receive notification. Once you approve their request, they are sent an email message where they retrieve and install the public key to their computer.