Encoding vs Encryption
Base64, hex, ciphers.
Two Different Goals
Encoding and encryption look similar because both transform data into something unreadable at first glance, but their goals are completely different.
- Encoding changes the format of data so it can be safely stored or transmitted.
- Encryption protects the confidentiality of data so only someone with a key can read it.
Confusing the two is one of the most common beginner mistakes in security.
Encoding Is Reversible by Anyone
Encoding uses a public, well-known scheme. There is no secret involved. Anyone who knows the scheme can decode the data instantly.
Common encodings include Base64, hex, URL encoding, and ASCII. They exist to make binary data survive text-only channels like email or HTTP headers.
All lessons in this course
- Encoding vs Encryption
- Hashing
- Symmetric and Asymmetric
- Cracking Hashes