Asymmetric Encryption

Question

Define the term Asymmetric Encryption?

Answer 1

Asymmetric algorithms are based on two different, but related, keys—one for encryption and another for decryption. These algorithms use relatively time-consuming mathematical operations such as selection of very large prime numbers, multiplication, exponentiation, and division. Asymmetric encryption can be 100 to 1000 times slower than symmetric encryption. Also, asymmetric encryption only works on very small blocks of data—those no larger than the key. For these reasons asymmetric encryption is generally considered not appropriate for large amounts of data.