asymmetric key: An approach to encryption where one (public) key is used to encrypt data prior to transmission and a different (private) key is used to decrypt data once it is received.
certificate authority: An organization that digitally signs public keys after verifying that the name listed in the public key is actually the person or organization in possession of the public key.
ciphertext: A scrambled version of a message that cannot be read without knowing the decryption key and technique.
decrypt: The act of transforming a ciphertext message to a plain text message using a secret or key.
encrypt: The act of transforming a plain text message to a ciphertext message using a secret or key.
plain text: A readable message that is about to be encrypted before being sent.
private key: The portion of a key pair that is used to decrypt transmissions.
public key: The portion of a key pair that is used to encrypt transmissions.
shared secret: An approach to encryption that uses the same key for encryption and decryption.
SSL: Secure Sockets Layer. An approach that allows an application to request that a Transport layer connection is to be encrypted as it crosses the network. Similar to Transport Layer Security (TLS).
TLS: Transport Layer Security. An approach that allows an application to request that a Transport layer connection is to be encrypted as it crosses the network. Similar to Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).