Encryption Software

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What Does Encryption Software Mean?

Encryption software is a type of security program that enables encryption and decryption of a data stream at rest or in transit. It enables the encryption of the content of a data object, file, network packet or application, so that it is secure and unviewable by unauthorized users.

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Techopedia Explains Encryption Software

Encryption software encrypts data or files by working with one or more encryption algorithms. Security personnel use it to protect data from being viewed by unauthorized users.

Typically, each data packet or file encrypted via encryption software requires a key to be decrypted to its original form. This key is generated by the software itself and shared between the data/file sender and receiver. Thus, even if the encrypted data is extracted or compromised, its original content cannot be retrieved without the encryption key. File encryption, email encryption, disk encryption and network encryption are widely used types of encryption software.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.