CommerceGuard.org is the primary site of the Commerce Accountability Project (CA Project, LLC), an organization dedicated to exposing anti-competitive, anti-labor and anti-consumer practices in industry. We rely on the support of the public to continue our work. If you would like to support us, please consider donating or volunteering. You can learn more about us here.
Glossary
InsuranceFinanceHealthcareEmployment LawPrivacy

End-to-end Encryption

End-to-end encryption is a method used to secure communication between two parties by ensuring that only the sender and recipient can access the transmitted data. It prevents anyone, including service providers, hackers, or government agencies, from intercepting or accessing the content of the messages.

Example #1

When you send a message through a messaging app that uses end-to-end encryption, the message gets scrambled into a code by the sender's device and can only be deciphered by the recipient's device, ensuring that no one in between can read the content.

Misuse

One example of misuse of end-to-end encryption is when malicious users exploit encrypted communication to plan and execute illegal activities, such as terrorism or trafficking. It is crucial to strike a balance between privacy and security to prevent such misuse.

Benefits

The primary benefit of end-to-end encryption is safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorized access. For instance, when sharing confidential business details or personal data over secure messaging apps, end-to-end encryption ensures that the information remains confidential and secure.

Conclusion

End-to-end encryption plays a vital role in protecting the privacy and security of individuals and businesses by providing a secure method for communicating sensitive information. It aligns with CAP's mission by empowering consumers and employees to safeguard their data from unauthorized access.

Related Terms

Data SecurityData ProtectionSecure TransmissionPrivacy-enhancing Technologies (PETs)

See Also

Double Ratchet AlgorithmSecure MessagingSecure Video ConferencingSignal Protocol

Last Modified: 4/30/2024
Was this helpful?