Secret key cryptography

Question 1

What is secret key cryptography?

Answer 1

Involves the use of a single key to encrypt and decrypt a message.

Question 2

What are the advantages of secret key cryptography?

Answer 2

1. It is fast, especially when compared to public key cryptographic systems.
2. The key need not be very long to achieve good security. For example, 128-bit keys are considered adequate.

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of secret key cryptography?

Answer 3

1. Keys need to be kept secret. Therefore, when trying to encrypt a communication session over the internet, a key exchange algorithm is required.
2. In a large network, key management becomes problematic, requiring the use of a trusted third-party.