The Role of Encryption in Protecting Digital Information

By Saanvi P.

Insights For Youth

Written By: Saanvi P.

September 29, 2026

Introduction

Every time someone buys something online, sends a text, or logs into a bank account, personal information travels across networks that strangers might access. Encryption keeps all information private. In simple terms, it scrambles data so only people with the right key can understand it (Cloudflare). Cisco, a networking and cybersecurity company, points out that this protection runs behind everyday actions such as online purchases, ATM withdrawals, and phone calls. Encryption matters because so much of modern life is stored and shared digitally, and without it, private conversations, medical records, or financial details would be leaked. This article explains how encryption works, why it matters and why it's controversial, and how both people and the government are shaping its future.

How Encryption Works

Cloudflare, an internet security and infrastructure company, describes how encryption turns readable information, called plaintext, into scrambled ciphertext using two things: an algorithm and a key. A simple version shifts every letter one place forward in the alphabet, so "cat" becomes "dbu." Real algorithms are much more complex, but the idea is the same: without the key, one will only see random letters. Information can be protected while stored, or "at rest," or while it moves between devices, or "in transit" (Cloudflare).

There are two main types of encryption. Symmetric encryption uses one shared key, while asymmetric encryption uses a public key to lock data and a private key to unlock it. Clare Stouffer, a social media marketing manager at Norton, a cybersecurity company, explains that symmetric methods are fast but require a secure way to share keys, so systems often combine both approaches. Encryption also has to keep up with attackers. The older Data Encryption Standard uses a short 56-bit key, and engineers broke it in just 22 hours in 1999 (Stouffer). Because attacks became increasingly powerful, the stronger Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) was adopted in 2002 (Cisco). Today, websites that use HTTPS rely on a protocol called TLS to encrypt traffic, which is why a lock symbol, also known as a padlock, appears in the browser's address bar (Cloudflare).

Why Encryption Matters and Where It Falls Short

Cloudflare describes four major benefits of encryption: privacy, security, data integrity, and regulatory compliance. Security is easy to picture; if a working laptop is stolen but its hard drive is properly encrypted, the thief still cannot read the files. Many laws also require this kind of protection, including HIPAA for health information and FERPA for student records (Stouffer).

However, encryption is not always used for good. Stouffer notes that in ransomware attacks, attackers use it against victims by locking their files and demanding payment to unlock them. Cisco adds that attackers can hide inside encrypted traffic, citing an estimate from its own CEO that approximately 70 percent of attacks are launched that way. Human mistakes can also undo encryption. Cloudflare warns that weak passwords are vulnerable to guessing attacks, and strong computers may someday threaten today's methods. Encryption is a powerful shield, but it works best with strong security and modern threat detection.

Defending Encryption and Protecting Yourself

Encryption is also a policy debate. Thorin Klosowski, a writer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit digital-rights organization that has made defending encryption central to its work, reports that governments worldwide tried to weaken encryption in 2025. In Europe, lawmakers repeatedly considered "Chat Control," a proposal to scan private messages, which EFF argues would break encryption rights. France considered letting police silently join encrypted chats, but its National Assembly rejected the idea. In the United Kingdom, the government reportedly demanded that Apple weaken its optional iCloud encryption, and Apple responded by turning off its Advanced Data Protection feature for British users (Klosowski). Supporters of these proposals say they help fight crime, while critics such as the EFF argue that weakening security for one group can endanger everyone.

Individuals have practical options as well. Stouffer recommends using end-to-end encrypted messaging apps, enabling encryption on all devices, choosing strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and keeping software updated. Backing up files can also limit ransomware damage (Stouffer).

Conclusion

Encryption is one of the most important protections in the digital world. It scrambles information so only the right people can read it, and it keeps online purchases, banking, and messaging secure, and helps organizations meet legal requirements. It is not 100 percent perfect, as criminals can misuse it and weak passwords can undermine it, and it remains the subject of global debate. Everyone plays a part: companies must use strong encryption, governments must prioritize digital security and privacy rights, and individuals must build these safe habits.

Works Cited

"What Is Encryption?" Cisco, 2026, www.cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/topics/security/what-is-encryption.html.

"What Is Encryption? | Types of Encryption." Cloudflare, 2026, www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/what-is-encryption/.

Klosowski, Thorin. "Defending Encryption in the U.S. And Abroad: 2025 In Review." Electronic Frontier Foundation, 28 Dec. 2025, www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/12/defending-encryption-us-and-abroad-2025-review.

Stouffer, Clare. "What Is Encryption? How It Works + Types of Encryption." Norton, 18 July 2023, us.norton.com.