1. End-to-End Encryption (E2EE)
What it means:
Your message is locked before it leaves your phone and can only be unlocked by the person you sent it to. Even if someone intercepts it, they can’t read it.
Example:
Think of it like sending a locked safe with a secret code. Only the receiver has the key to open it.
2. Public-Key Cryptography (Asymmetric Encryption)
What it means:
A security method where each person has two keys:
- A public key that anyone can use to lock (encrypt) messages for them.
- A private key that only they have, which is used to unlock (decrypt) messages.
Example:
Imagine a mailbox. Anyone can drop letters (messages) inside because it’s open (public key), but only you have the key to unlock and read them (private key).
3. Rich Communication Services (RCS)
What it means:
RCS is the modern upgrade to SMS, allowing features like read receipts, typing indicators, and high-quality media sharing—just like WhatsApp or iMessage but for normal text messages.
Example:
It’s like upgrading from black-and-white TV (SMS) to a smart TV with streaming services (RCS).
4. Signal Protocol
What it means:
A super-secure encryption method used by apps like Signal and WhatsApp to protect messages from hackers and surveillance.
Example:
It’s like an ultra-secure vault for your texts that even the manufacturer (like Google or Apple) can’t open.
5. Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS)
What it means:
Even if a hacker gets your encryption keys today, they still can’t read your old messages because new keys are created for every conversation.
Example:
Imagine a diary with self-erasing ink. Even if someone steals it, all the old pages have already disappeared.
6. Post-Compromise Security
What it means:
If a hacker somehow gets temporary access to your messages, they still can’t read future conversations because the system keeps changing encryption keys.
Example:
It’s like a house with a security system that changes the locks every day, so even if a thief gets in once, they can’t get in again.
7. Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)
What it means:
A type of encryption that provides very strong security while using less power and memory.
Example:
It’s like a lightweight bulletproof vest—smaller and more efficient but just as strong.
8. Man-in-the-Middle Attack (MITM)
What it means:
A hacking technique where an attacker secretly intercepts and alters communication between two people without them knowing.
Example:
Like someone secretly listening to your phone call, changing what one person says, and passing false messages between you.
9. Metadata Exposure
What it means:
Even if your message is encrypted, some information (like who you’re messaging and when) can still be tracked by companies or hackers.
Example:
Like sealing a letter in an envelope—people can’t see the contents, but they can see who you’re sending it to.
10. Backdoor
What it means:
A secret way for governments or hackers to bypass encryption and read messages without permission.
Example:
Like having a hidden door in a bank vault that only a few people know about, but once discovered, anyone can use it to steal money.
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