What is message encryption?

It ensures that user communication remains private and secure, preventing intercepting messages. This upholds message integrity and data confidentiality.

Encryption uses an algorithm to convert the original message, called plaintext, into a scrambled form, called a cipher. The encryption algorithm converts the plaintext according to a secret key, making it unintelligible (appearing as random, meaningless data) to any party without the correct key.

An authorized recipient retrieves the encrypted data using a decryption algorithm and its corresponding secret key. To reverse the ciphertext, you apply the decryption algorithm and its correct key, revealing the original message.

The two primary types of encryption

• Private key encryption (symmetric encryption): This encryption method uses a single secret key to encrypt and decrypt messages between the sender and recipient. The shared key is exchanged securely through an encrypted channel. Symmetric encryption algorithms are efficient at bulk data encryption and often include Advanced Encryption Standard, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Data Encryption Standard (DES), and Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES).

• Public key encryption (asymmetric encryption): This method uses a joined pair of mathematically related keys — public and private. The public key encrypts messages and is freely available, and the private key decrypts an encrypted message and is kept secret. Asymmetric encryption algorithms, like RSA or Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), provide secure communication — without the need to exchange secret keys.

Message encryption is an important security feature that helps ensure the integrity and privacy of user data exchanged during in-app communications. Sendbird and other leading in-app communications platforms offer a variety of security measures, such as proper key management practices and encryption algorithms to protect users and their data.