Verschlüsseltes

Verschlüsseltes is a German term that refers to data or communications that have been transformed by cryptographic methods to conceal their contents from unauthorized parties. The process, known as encryption, converts plaintext into ciphertext using an algorithm and a key. Without the correct key, the ciphertext should be unreadable.

Two main classes of encryption exist. Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption, while asymmetric encryption uses a key pair (a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption). Hybrid systems combine these approaches by encrypting a symmetric session key with an asymmetric key, then using the symmetric key to encrypt the data. This approach balances security and performance.

Common algorithms include symmetric ones such as AES and ChaCha20-Poly1305, and asymmetric ones such as RSA and elliptic-curve implementations like ECDSA or X25519. Modern systems often employ authenticated encryption modes (for example AES-GCM) to provide both confidentiality and integrity, or use digital signatures to verify authenticity and non-repudiation.

Applications of Verschlüsseltes span secure communications (HTTPS/TLS, VPNs), encrypted storage (disk or database encryption), and end-to-end messaging. Key management is a critical operational aspect, covering secure generation, storage, rotation, and access control. Potential weaknesses arise from weak keys, misconfigurations, implementation flaws, or side-channel leaks.

Historically, modern encryption became widely deployed in the late 20th century with the advent of public-key cryptography and standardized protocols for secure Internet traffic. Legal and policy considerations include privacy protections, export controls, and compliance with standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST guidelines.