What is the difference between a private and a public key?
Private and public keys are two essential components of asymmetric encryption that work together to ensure data security. Here are the main differences between them:
The private key is used to decrypt data that has been encrypted with the corresponding public key and to create a digital signature.
🔵 The private key must be kept strictly confidential and accessible only to the owner. Its leakage can lead to data and asset compromise.
🔵 It is used to sign transactions, documents, and messages, confirming their authenticity and allowing the recipient to verify that the data truly comes from the owner of the private key.
The public key is used to encrypt data that can then only be decrypted using the corresponding private key and to verify a digital signature created by the private key.
🔵 The public key can be freely distributed and shared with others. Its leakage poses no threat since it cannot be used to access data by itself.
🔵 It is used to encrypt messages or data that will be sent to the private key owner and to verify the authenticity of signatures.
