What is End-to-End Encryption (E2EE)?

TL;DR

While digital communications may appear to be a private exchange of messages, all messages are recorded and stored in a central server.
End-to-end encryption, or E2EE, ensures that the server in charge of transferring messages between the sender and the recipient cannot read them.

The fundamental component of end-to-end encryption is the generation of a public-private key pair known as asymmetric cryptography that secures and decrypts data using separate cryptographic keys.

As more security and privacy-focused apps are released, it is essential to remember that end-to-end encryption cannot provide complete security against cyberattacks but significantly reduces exposure.




Introduction

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At first glance, digital communications may appear to be a private exchange of messages between you and your friends, but all messages are recorded and stored in a central server. In many instances, you may not want the server in charge of transferring your messages between you and the recipient to read them. End-to-end encryption, or E2EE as it is more commonly known, is the solution to this.

End-to-end encryption is a technique for encrypting communications between the sender and the receiver so that only those parties can decrypt the data. It all started in the 1990s when Phil Zimmerman released the encryption program Pretty Good Privacy (aka PGP).


What is End-to-End Encryption?

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End-to-end encryption, abbreviated as E2EE, is a protected communication method that encrypts data transmitted from one end device or system to another, preventing third parties from accessing the data.

In an end-to-end encryption system, no one can access the information except the sender and the receiver. Data is encrypted at the device level, meaning that files and messages are encrypted before being sent and decrypted only after reaching their destination.

Types of Encryptions
Encryption is classified into two types based on the type of keys used:

• Symmetric Encryption:
In Symmetric Encryption, messages on both the sender and receiver sides are encrypted and decrypted using the same key. As a result, it is less effective than asymmetric encryption because sending the key from one end to the other may be necessary, exposing it to compromise.

• Asymmetric Cryptography:
Asymmetric encryption employs two types of keys: one public key and one private key. Both the sender and the receiver have a public and a private key. Both ends have access to the public keys, and both sender and receiver can share them before the communication begins.

The sender encrypts the messages to be sent using the receiver's public key, and the receiver decrypts the messages using both its public and private keys. The receiver's private key is only available to the receiver and no one else.


How End-to-End Encryption Works

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The fundamental component of end-to-end encryption is generating a public-private key pair. This method, also known as asymmetric cryptography, secures and decrypts data using separate cryptographic keys.

Public keys are widely available and are used to encrypt or lock messages. The public key is accessible to everyone on the network (for example, an organization's email system). Users encrypt their transmissions with the public key and send them to another user with the same public key. However, the information can only be decrypted using the correct private key, also known as the decryption key.

On the other hand, private keys are known only to the respective owner at each end (the senders and receivers) and are used to decrypt or unlock the information.

Let's look at an example to see how this all fits together.

Mark and Paul have set up accounts on their company's computer system. This end-to-end encrypted system assigns a public-private key pair to each user. The public keys are kept on the server, but each individual's private keys are kept on their devices.

Mark wants to send Paul an encrypted message, so he encrypts it with Paul's public key. When Paul receives the message, he decrypts Mark's message using his private key, which is already on his device. If Paul wishes to respond to Mark, he repeats the process, encrypting the message with Mark's public key.


Advantages of End-to-End Encryption

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End-to-end encryption is analogous to locking your data in an impenetrable safe and sending it to the only person who knows the combination. With this level of security, end-to-end encryption becomes a precious and necessary part of doing business in the twenty-first century. These are some of the advantages of end-to-end encryption:

It protects against unauthorized access to data: End-to-end encryption is critical because it provides users and receivers with the necessary security for their message and data from when the user sends it until the recipient receives it. It also ensures that no unauthorized user can read the data during the process. For instance, some service providers use their access to the decryption keys to target the account owners with advertisements. Some of this is accounted for by accessing user files and emails.

It, however, cannot occur on a well-designed end-to-end encrypted system because the encryption system does not grant providers access to the decryption keys. End-to-end encryption is an absolute must for people who value their privacy.

It protects privacy: Because the information is decrypted on the providers' servers, service providers can potentially read their customers' data. Unfortunately, this exposes decrypted data to unauthorized third parties and hackers. By making it impossible for anyone to read the data, E2EE prevents these intrusions.

It protects against fraud and hacking:
Hackers have numerous attack vectors. End-to-end encryption renders these efforts ineffective because a hacker can't read your encrypted data no matter how they gain access to it. Therefore, end-to-end encryption protects against fraud, particularly message tampering.

Hackers and other cybercriminals frequently attempt to change information either maliciously or fraudulently. Because there is no way to change an E2EE encrypted message predictably, tampering would stand out like a sore thumb, alerting users that the data has been compromised.

It protects free speech: The strong privacy safeguards of end-to-end encryption assist activists, journalists, and dissidents in keeping their words safe and out of the hands of prying eyes, thereby protecting the concept of free speech.


Limitations of End-to-End Encryption

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It cannot protect metadata:
Metadata includes information such as the end date and time of the message, the sender, and the receiver. As a result, while E2EE protects the message's content, it does not protect the information surrounding the message. Based on the metadata, hackers could extrapolate specific information.

It cannot protect compromised endpoints:
End-to-end encryption will protect your text, but it will not prevent someone from gaining access to your device or the device to which you sent the data. You can do everything correctly, but if the recipient decrypts the message, then walks away from their device for a while and leaves it unattended, there is a risk that the information will fall into the hands of the wrong people.

E2EE has no control over vulnerable intermediaries:
Some providers offer something more akin to encryption in transit, even though they claim to offer end-to-end encryption. As a result, any of your data stored on an intermediary's server may be accessed.


Conclusion

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As more security and privacy-focused apps are released, it is essential to remember that end-to-end encryption cannot provide complete security against cyberattacks. However, it significantly reduces exposure to it. As a result, by implementing E2EE, all crypto projects/protocols and small businesses will improve their security.




Author - M. Olatunji, Gate.io Researcher
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