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The “secret” that locks and unlocks encrypted data.

Definition

An encryption key is the secret value used to encrypt and decrypt data. Without the key, encrypted data should be unreadable.

In plain English The “secret” that locks and unlocks encrypted data.

Why this matters

Why it matters: Whoever controls the key often controls access to your private data.

Example

Example: If you lose the key for an encrypted backup, you may not be able to restore it.