I had an interview today, and I felt I wasn’t as prepared as I should have been. A technical question came up, and I completely blanked. It really shook me and worsened the impostor syndrome I already struggle with daily.
To make matters worse, HR didn’t send me the meeting link until an hour before the interview, so I was already very on edge (I had to track the HR rep down with some OSINT!). My nerves were shot, and my mind just froze.
The question was: “Give me examples of asymmetric and symmetric encryption.” I couldn’t answer it completely, and it made me feel like I had completely failed.
So here’s a quick and simple breakdown of Asymmetric vs. Symmetric Encryption for anyone else who might face this question—especially if the syndrome gets the best of you:
Symmetric Encryption
- Key Concept: Uses one key for both encryption and decryption.
- Examples: AES (used to protect files, hard drives, and data backups).
- Use Cases:
- Encrypting a large amount of data (like data transfer in HTTPS).
- Protecting files or systems (BitLocker, FileVault).
Asymmetric Encryption
- Verifying digital signatures and securing cryptocurrency wallets.
- Key Concept: Uses a pair of keys—one public (to encrypt) and one private (to decrypt).
- Examples: RSA, ECC (used for digital signatures or key exchange).
- Use Cases:
- Exchanging a symmetric key securely during HTTPS.
- Email encryption (PGP/GPG).
| Aspect | Symmetric Encryption | Asymmetric Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Keys | Single shared key for both encryption and decryption | Uses a pair of keys: public key (encrypt) and private key (decrypt) |
| Speed | Fast | Slower due to complex math |
| Use Case | Encrypting large amounts of data (e.g., files) | Secure key exchange, digital signatures, small data encryption |
| Key Distribution | Requires a secure channel to share the key | Public key can be shared openly, only private key is secret |
| Examples | AES, DES | RSA, ECC |
Quick Analogy to remember:
- Symmetric: Like a house key—one key locks and unlocks the door.
- Asymmetric: Like a mailbox—anyone can drop letters in (public key), but only the mailbox owner can open it (private key).