Comparing public-key algorithms

We understand what is required to create a strong algorithm and see the value in using a key pair. In this section, we'll take a look at a few public-key algorithms, such as RSA and ECC. We'll also see how PGP and GPG can secure our email with little or no effort. Finally, we'll discuss methods we use to ensure trust when using a public key.

Let's start with outlining how RSA is used to secure data.

Outlining RSA

In 1977, Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Len Adleman developed RSA, a widely recognized cipher that is used in a number of different applications.

RSA uses a variety of encryption key lengths that include the following: 1,024-bit, 2,048-bit, and 4,096-bit lengths. The algorithm is used when sending a shared secret key in symmetric encryption. However, it can also be used to encrypt documents and create a digital signature.

Let's step through what is involved when calculating private and public keys using...