Final answer:
Asymmetric Key Encryption uses pairs of keys where the public key encrypts and the private key decrypts the message, ensuring that only the intended recipient can read it and maintaining security across the Internet.
Step-by-step explanation:
Asymmetric Key Encryption, also known as public/private key encryption, is a cryptographic system that uses pairs of keys. One is a public key, which can be shared with anyone, and the other is a private key, which must be kept secret. When a message is sent, the sender uses the recipient's public key to encrypt it. The recipient then uses their own private key to decrypt the message. This system ensures that only the intended recipient can read the message, as only they have access to the corresponding private key.
An example of asymmetric key encryption is when you send an encrypted email. The email service uses the recipient's public key to encrypt the message. Upon receiving the email, the recipient uses their private key to decrypt it, ensuring confidentiality. Likewise, the sender can sign a message with their own private key, which the recipient can verify with the sender's public key, ensuring authenticity.
Asymmetric key encryption is fundamental to various security protocols used on the Internet, such as SSL/TLS, which secures web communications, and PGP for secure emails. It provides a high level of security, as it is computationally infeasible to derive a private key from its corresponding public key.