ABSTRACT

WHY ENCRYPTION MATTERS

by David D. Friedman

Computers threaten to sharply reduce privacy because, when communication takes place on a worldwide network of computers, with a powerful computer it is relatively easy for a snoop to sort through millions of intercepted messages to find the interesting ones. In this environment the only way to obtain privacy is through encryption. Described in this article is what many believe is the best way to encrypt electronic messages: public key encryption.