What Is Private Key?

A public key is like a lockbox for your private key. A private key is a tiny bit of code paired with a public key to set off text encryption and decryption algorithms. It is created as part of public key cryptography during asymmetric-key encryption and used to decrypt and transform a message into a readable format. Public and private keys are paired for secure communication, such as email. If you think about it, it's weird: how can you send someone an encrypted message without them knowing what they're sending? This is where the concept of public/private keys comes in handy. Public/private keys are paired up so they can communicate securely without sharing any information except their public key, which can be shared freely with anyone who wants to send you an encrypted message! When sending a message with a private key, you don't need to worry that someone will steal it and read the contents. The only person who has access to your private key is you! When you send an encrypted message, it's encrypted with another person's public key, meaning only they can decrypt it. So if you send a message to someone with their public key and they use their private key to decode it, no one else can read it unless they have access to that person's private key. Private keys are great for keeping your information safe and making sure that only people who should receive your messages get them in the first place! So, sending an encrypted message is like a game of chess. You must ensure you're playing with the right person and using their pieces correctly. You don't want to play chess with anyone other than your friend because they might use your pieces to win the game! The same goes for sending encrypted messages: you must use your friend's public and private keys. That way, when your friend receives the message, they'll use their private key for decryption, and you can use your public key.