As more and more people are discovering the convenience of the Internet through online shopping, online banking, and other transactions where sensitive information is sent over the Internet, not everyone realizes the potential security risks involved.

Though viruses and worms are still pretty serious threats, nothing can be more serious than when an individual’s personal information is stolen and used fraudulently. Now this should not panic you and let you stop making transactions online. There are effective measures that deter such malicious activities like identity theft. All you need to do is be aware.

Security through Encryption

Identity theft or the fraudulent use of another person’s identity is a very serious, but there are security measures in place that prevent such things from happening. Encryption is one of the most important security measures set in place.

Encryption is the process of obfuscating information using an algorithm or cipher. This encrypted information can only be read by providing the right key or password. Without that key, it will be almost impossible to read the encrypted information.

Encryption has long been used in computing and the Internet. The standard encryption protocol on the Internet is SSL or Secure Sockets Layer and is used in secure browsing and sending of information over the Internet (web browsing, email, and instant messaging).

There is no need for special software to install to be able to use SSL encryption. As long as the browser you are using supports it, you don’t have to worry about it. Most browsers support this encryption protocol.

Here are the some popular browsers that support web encryption protocols:

• Internet Explorer
• Mozilla Firefox
• Opera
• Safari (Mac or Windows version)

All you need to do is when making transactions over the Internet is make sure that the website is using encryption. You can easily find out if it does when you see a small padlock icon at the lower side corner of your web browser.

How Encryption on the Internet Works

Once a website uses SSL or any other web encryption protocol, it happens automatically. In most cases, you wouldn’t even notice. Web encryption protocols are a type of public key encryption. Here is how they work:

Before you send information, like your credit card number, your log-in details for your email account, or when you transfer funds from your online banking account, that information is encrypted using a public key first, then later sent to the website’s server you are transacting with. If the data that you sent is intercepted by someone else, it would not make any sense because it is encrypted.

Only the person with the private key (like the website you are transacting business with) can read and access the information that has been sent.

A public key means that anyone can send encrypted information, but it can only be opened by the one that has the private key. Imagine it as a locked mailbox where anyone can walk up to it and drop a letter inside it, but only the one that has the key to unlock the mailbox can be the one to read the letters dropped into it.

That is basically how encryption over the Internet works. It is simple, yet effective at protecting sensitive information as it is being received.

Encryption Downfalls

Given that setup, you will realize that there are only two possible or feasible ways to bypass web encryption protocols. It can be done by compromising either points – the computer or the server.

When either the server or your computer has been compromised, encryption is rendered useless. Since it is more difficult to hack a server, most attacks occur on end user’s computers – your computer – through malware like spyware as well as phishing attacks.

If a computer you are using has malicious software in it, one that can monitor the information you are entering before it is encrypted and sent over the Internet, or when someone already harvested that information before hand, then you are at a great risk. (Tips on how to get rid of malware)

Encryption Benefits

Spyware, trojans, and other similar malware can be made to secretly monitor the activities you do on your computer. Such information is recorded and sent afterwards for later use.

Phishing uses a different approach. It uses social engineering by tricking you into voluntarily provide sensitive information. This usually is done through email or instant messaging (read this article on how to detect phishing scams for more information).

It is safe to say that encryption provides sufficient protection from identity theft. All that is left is the users do the right things to ensure their security online. Security software like antivirus protect against malware like viruses, trojans, and worms. Anti-spyware protects and prevents spyware and adware from entering your computer, and firewall software only allows authorized software or computers to access the Internet.

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