Hybridverschlüsselungsverfahren

Hybridverschlüsselung, also known as hybrid encryption, is a cryptographic method that combines public-key cryptography (asymmetric encryption) with symmetric-key cryptography. This approach leverages the strengths of both systems to achieve efficient and secure data transmission.

The process typically begins with a symmetric encryption algorithm, such as AES, which is highly efficient for encrypting large amounts of data. However, securely exchanging the symmetric key used for this encryption poses a challenge. This is where public-key cryptography comes into play.

A public-key algorithm, like RSA, is used to encrypt the randomly generated symmetric key. The sender uses the recipient's public key to encrypt the symmetric key. Only the recipient, who possesses the corresponding private key, can decrypt this symmetric key. Once the recipient has successfully decrypted the symmetric key, they can then use it to decrypt the actual message or data that was encrypted using the symmetric algorithm.

This hybrid approach offers the best of both worlds: the efficiency of symmetric encryption for bulk data and the secure key exchange mechanism provided by asymmetric encryption. It is widely used in various applications, including secure email (like PGP), secure web browsing (SSL/TLS), and secure file transfer protocols, ensuring confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information.