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discuss the fundamental differences between symmetric key encryption and public key encryption

techniques

Symmetric key encryption involves the use of the same encryption key for both encryption and
decryption whilst public key encryption uses two different keys – the one for encrypting will be
public whereas the key used for decrypting is private. The private key is based on a derivative of the
public key and only the two keys working together can decrypt the packets. Due to the private key
never being sent across networks, public key encryption is more secure but slower than symmetric
key encryption.

Symmetric key encryption doesn't require as many CPU cycles as public key encryption, so it is
generally faster. However, symmetric keys have a major that they are less. Symmetric key encryption
works well locally but has issues when used to work across networks.

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