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Today, almost every Internet user is familiar with terms such as "end-to-end encryption" (E2EE) and "two-factor authentication" (2FA). Marketers have contributed greatly to this, making technical terms widely recognizable. Why have they become so popular? Let's figure it out in this article.
The canonical example of using E2EE and 2FA can be found in instant messaging apps, which provide end-to-end encryption to protect messages. Moreover, popular instant messaging apps claim to use both end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication to protect accounts.
When you log into the messenger from a new device, you need to enter a password and a code from the SMS - this is an example of two-factor authentication (2FA). However, even after successful login, all messages, files and calls remain encrypted thanks to end-to-end encryption (E2EE). No one except you and your interlocutor will be able to read the correspondence. To gain access to it, cybercriminals use various methods and attack scenarios: they may be interested not only in your personal information, but also in any other unencrypted data.
Universal security solution
Encryption is a process of reversible (as opposed to hashing) encoding of information to prevent unauthorized access. Encrypted data is the result of applying an encoding algorithm that makes the information inaccessible to those for whom it is not intended. Data can be decoded into its original form only with a key. Moreover, the same key is not always used for encryption and decryption - this is where the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption lies.
At the same time, data encryption is a universal solution for protection: it can be applied to a password, information in a file, or all data on a storage medium.
Encryption from strangers and from your own
End-to-end encryption ensures that data remains confidential not only for external intruders, but also for the companies providing the services. For example, in cloud services with E2EE, even their owners cannot access the contents of correspondence or files.
A striking example is the https protocol. Over the past ten years, most of the Internet has switched to it. This happened not only because of the desire of users to protect the contents of post-requests, but also due to the policy of ranking sites by search engines. Now this requirement is present in almost every technical task for the creation of an information system. However, it is not always easy to make sure that the encryption is truly end-to-end.
Two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a process that requires the client to have not only a password, but also a physical device (e.g., a SIM card). In the early 2000s, systems used only a login and password, but the Internet has evolved, and now single-factor authorization can only be found on the websites of small companies that do not work with financial information and personal data.
What is a "factor" in this case? It is something you know (e.g., a password), something you have (e.g., a device), and something that identifies you (e.g., biometrics).
There are different types of factors. For example, authorization can take place through hardware devices such as Yubikey or Rutoken, but these technologies are not yet widespread among the mass consumer. However, SMS codes and biometrics are already widely used. Alternatives are entering a code from an incoming call or push notification.
Enhanced protection
End-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication work at different levels, but their combination significantly enhances user security on the Internet.
Even if the messenger server is attacked, intruders will not be able to access messages. And if an intruder tries to log into an account, having obtained the password, two-factor authentication will significantly complicate this process.
Although some users may consider such measures redundant for messengers, in the financial sector they are becoming critical.
Today, data protection in fintech is becoming increasingly important. According to companies specializing in information security, in the first half of 2024, 986 million lines of personal data leaked in Russia, which is 40% more than in the same period in 2023. A significant part of this data was compromised in one incident - 500 million lines leaked. Online retailers remain the leaders in the number of leaks, accounting for about 40% of incidents.
It is impossible to imagine what these numbers would be without the implementation of multi-factor authentication and data encryption.
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) protects transmitted data from interception and unauthorized reading, even on the service side, and two-factor authentication (2FA) prevents unauthorized access to accounts. E2EE is a key technology that allows users to be confident that their data, correspondence and files are protected from prying eyes. This is especially important in the context of global digitalization and, as a consequence, increased cyber risks and data abuse.
Source
The canonical example of using E2EE and 2FA can be found in instant messaging apps, which provide end-to-end encryption to protect messages. Moreover, popular instant messaging apps claim to use both end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication to protect accounts.
When you log into the messenger from a new device, you need to enter a password and a code from the SMS - this is an example of two-factor authentication (2FA). However, even after successful login, all messages, files and calls remain encrypted thanks to end-to-end encryption (E2EE). No one except you and your interlocutor will be able to read the correspondence. To gain access to it, cybercriminals use various methods and attack scenarios: they may be interested not only in your personal information, but also in any other unencrypted data.
Universal security solution
Encryption is a process of reversible (as opposed to hashing) encoding of information to prevent unauthorized access. Encrypted data is the result of applying an encoding algorithm that makes the information inaccessible to those for whom it is not intended. Data can be decoded into its original form only with a key. Moreover, the same key is not always used for encryption and decryption - this is where the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption lies.
At the same time, data encryption is a universal solution for protection: it can be applied to a password, information in a file, or all data on a storage medium.
Encryption from strangers and from your own
End-to-end encryption ensures that data remains confidential not only for external intruders, but also for the companies providing the services. For example, in cloud services with E2EE, even their owners cannot access the contents of correspondence or files.
A striking example is the https protocol. Over the past ten years, most of the Internet has switched to it. This happened not only because of the desire of users to protect the contents of post-requests, but also due to the policy of ranking sites by search engines. Now this requirement is present in almost every technical task for the creation of an information system. However, it is not always easy to make sure that the encryption is truly end-to-end.
Two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a process that requires the client to have not only a password, but also a physical device (e.g., a SIM card). In the early 2000s, systems used only a login and password, but the Internet has evolved, and now single-factor authorization can only be found on the websites of small companies that do not work with financial information and personal data.
What is a "factor" in this case? It is something you know (e.g., a password), something you have (e.g., a device), and something that identifies you (e.g., biometrics).
There are different types of factors. For example, authorization can take place through hardware devices such as Yubikey or Rutoken, but these technologies are not yet widespread among the mass consumer. However, SMS codes and biometrics are already widely used. Alternatives are entering a code from an incoming call or push notification.
Enhanced protection
End-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication work at different levels, but their combination significantly enhances user security on the Internet.
Even if the messenger server is attacked, intruders will not be able to access messages. And if an intruder tries to log into an account, having obtained the password, two-factor authentication will significantly complicate this process.
Although some users may consider such measures redundant for messengers, in the financial sector they are becoming critical.
Today, data protection in fintech is becoming increasingly important. According to companies specializing in information security, in the first half of 2024, 986 million lines of personal data leaked in Russia, which is 40% more than in the same period in 2023. A significant part of this data was compromised in one incident - 500 million lines leaked. Online retailers remain the leaders in the number of leaks, accounting for about 40% of incidents.
It is impossible to imagine what these numbers would be without the implementation of multi-factor authentication and data encryption.
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) protects transmitted data from interception and unauthorized reading, even on the service side, and two-factor authentication (2FA) prevents unauthorized access to accounts. E2EE is a key technology that allows users to be confident that their data, correspondence and files are protected from prying eyes. This is especially important in the context of global digitalization and, as a consequence, increased cyber risks and data abuse.
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