Is your message encrypted? If not, then you could be leaving yourself at risk for information getting out before you want it to. And if your messages are encrypted, what happens to them when the sender self-destructs? Read on and learn more about encryption, how it works and how to use it.
What is Encryption?
Encryption is the process of converting data into a form that can’t be read by anyone but its intended recipients, usually a form that requires keys or passwords. Encryption is a way to protect intellectual property, including crucial documents and spreadsheets, as well as sensitive communications. Documents that are encrypted also can’t be modified without detection. All these protections mean that you can send sensitive data over the Internet without worrying about a hacker stealing your information.
When you encrypt a document, the привнот message is scrambled so that it’s unreadable by anyone who doesn’t have access to the encryption key or password. Some encryption products, such as PGP and GPG, also let you validate (or verify) the identity of the sender and ensure that the message has not been tampered with since it was sent.
What Happens to Encrypted Messages When The Sender Self Destructs?
Self-destructing messages are a great way to make sure that your message and the reply get read quickly. If the receiver is going to self-destruct, they need to take action fast. That’s a problem if they can’t read your encrypted message.
The answer is that there are few options available in this situation. You could instruct the receiver not to wait for an encryption key, or wait only a certain amount of time before erasing messages on their end (and starting over). Or you could use a method that doesn’t require encryption, such as an open channel.
But what would work best for you will depend on your exact situation, so consider trying multiple approaches in order to find the right combination for your business. In the meantime, here are more in-depth options for encryption:
Recipients can instruct the sender to send both the encrypted and decrypted versions of a message – this works best when both people are using compatible encryption standards and programs.
Recipients can instruct the sender to send the encrypted and decrypted versions of a message, but not to wait for the receiver.
Senders can use an open channel, such as a chat room or instant messaging system that does not require encryption. Encryption is only needed when you want to send sensitive information via email or other means that are traditionally difficult to protect against interception.
