Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Security Handbook

Common Encryption Algorithms

All right, you have looked at the history of cryptography and the two common types. Now look at some specific encryption algorithms you can run across in the real world today. However, before you get too far into this section, it's a good idea to define some terms that might be unfamiliar to you:

• Symmetric-key Encryption. A symmetric-key encryption system is an encryption system where the sender and the receiver of a message share a single, common key. This key is used to encrypt and decrypt the message. Although secure, this mechanism requires that a secure key exchange take place prior to the sending of encrypted messages. This is also known as private key cryptography.

• BXA (The Bureau of Export Administration). ...