The role of encryption in secure communications

Let’s imagine a world in which encryption did not exist. In this scenario, any data we shared online, from our passwords and credit card numbers to our personal conversations, would be completely exposed to prying eyes. Cybercriminals, governments and other unscrupulous entities could have unlimited access to our most intimate secrets and most sensitive information. This would lead to an epidemic of identity theft, financial fraud and the erosion of trust in digital communications.

Not only individuals would suffer the consequences. Companies would have their trade secrets and customer data stolen, which could bankrupt many of them. Governments would be unable to ensure national security or protect classified information. Society as a whole would be plunged into digital chaos, where trust and privacy would fade, undermining people’s ability to interact, trade and collaborate securely online.