Amirhossein Saberi
November 17, 2021
•
6
min read
Have you wondered what encryption is? To understand it, let’s look at the bigger picture of communication data.
Every day, we communicate with people and computers, like Siri or Alexa. Much of that communication can be picked up by others. This includes:
- Eavesdroppers.
- People nearby.
- Apps and IoT (Internet of Things) systems.
If you wanted to say something private at a dinner party, you would leave the table. You would find a place where other guests cannot hear you. In the digital IoT era, "leaving the table" is more difficult.
Someone is always interested in intercepting your:
- Voice calls.
- Text messages.
- Emails.
Whether for marketing or malicious purposes, you must be proactive. You need to "leave the dinner table" in a digital way to protect your data.
What is Encryption?
The military first used encryption over two thousand years ago. Julius Caesar needed to send secret documents to his troops. He developed a "substitution cipher."
The Caesar Cipher:
- It simply shifted letters in the alphabet by three places.
- It was very effective in its day.
- Today, a computer can decode this in seconds.
Symmetric Encryption
Modern standards began with algorithms using a "key" to encrypt and decrypt information.
- 1975: The first Data Encryption Standard (DES) was proposed.
- 2001: The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) replaced DES.
- AES: This is the secure standard we use today. It was built to handle advancements in CPU power.
Asymmetric Encryption
This method uses two different types of keys:
- Public key: Used for encryption.
- Private key: Used for decryption.
Transport Layer Security (TLS)
TLS, formerly known as SSL, is a security protocol. It uses both symmetric and asymmetric encryption. The primary goals of TLS are:
- Providing privacy.
- Ensuring data integrity.
- Authenticating messages to prevent tampering.
CINNOX uses the best methods approved by NIST to stay compliant with international standards.
Communication and CINNOX
The CINNOX platform offers multiple ways for companies to communicate. This includes staff-to-staff and staff-to-customer interactions. Our engineers ensure that every channel is safe:
- Chat and On-net calls.
- Off-net calls and SMS.
- Toll-free and Omnichannel (Facebook, WhatsApp, WeChat).
- Conference calls and Video conferencing.
- Screen sharing.
How CINNOX protects your communications
We use layers of security to keep your data private:
• Latest Standards: Communication is encrypted with TLS version 1.3.
• Attack Prevention: We use HSTS to prevent "man-in-the-middle" attacks.
• Voice & Video: 1-on-1 calls are fully secured with strong encryption.
• Data at Rest: We encrypt your data in the database using AES-256.
• Compliance: Our systems are in full GDPR compliance.
How to ensure your connection is safe and secure?
Browser Safety
- Stay Updated: Always use the latest version of your browser.
- Use Chrome: We suggest Google Chrome as it is highly secure.
- Enable Secure DNS: Use "DNS over HTTPS" to prevent cache poisoning.
- Check URLs: Verify domain names to prevent "typosquatting" (misspelling) attacks.
- Verify HTTPS: Ensure the website you are using has a secure connection.
Public Wi-Fi Risks
Surveys show over 50% of mobile users use public Wi-Fi. This is dangerous because:
- Data sent through public Wi-Fi is easily intercepted.
- It puts your digital identity and money at risk.
Safety Tips:
- Avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks.
- Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to create an encrypted tunnel.
Secure Calling
- Ensure your browser is using a Secure WebSocket.
- CINNOX uses the latest WebSocket versions with TLS and DTLS-SRTP.
- This protects and encrypts your voice calls end-to-end.
- Always check app permissions for your Microphone and Webcam.
Always check permissions of applications and websites on your Microphone and Webcam
References
- Typosquatting
- How to check spam phishing emails
- History of Cryptography
- Blown to Bits, Hal Abelson [ISBN 0-13-713559-9]
If you've read this far, you're probably already working hard to make your customers happy! When you pair your efforts with a total experience platform like CINNOX together with the tips we shared above, they should help you onboard new customers, retain existing customers, and keep everyone coming back for more.
