10. Encryption

This is a method of scrambling data in such a way that only the people who have the 'secret key' to unlock the message can read it.

This is an example of ordinary text:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

Humpty Dumpty had a big fall.

This is what an encrypted code for the text would look like:

lj86ik,£lj)ay%9w2+m?lsild171724

jkd2f*hkdfh7$171kjfh7d1h4d

Encryption works by scrambling the original message with a very large digital number (key). This is done using advanced mathematics. Commercial-level encryption uses 128 bit key that is very, very hard to crack.

The authorised computer receiving the message knows the digital key and so is able to work out the original message.