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The details are quite complicated, but it works more or less like this. A public code - the code that everybody can see - is used to by multiplying two large prime numbers (of a few hundred digits each). The secret code is the factors involved. While it is easy to verify that the two factors - if somebody provides them - have the specified product, it is very hard to factor the large number and find the factors. No algorithm (method) is known that can do this factoring in a reasonable time.

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Q: How are prime numbers involved in encryption?
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Why should prime numbers only be used as encryption keys?

prime numbers only be used as encryption keys as in encryption the numbers are coded inj the form of 0s and 1s ,i.e binary form.


How do you use prime numbers in real life?

Data encryption, used for personal identification numbers (PINs) and for secure communications over the internet are based on very large prime numbers.


Why are prime number needed nowadays?

One interesting application of HUGE prime numbers is in encryption. Many systems used nowadays for encryption use more or less random prime numbers, of over a hundred digits each. This is by no means the only practical application of prime numbers. More examples of practical uses can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_number#Applications


Does the CIA buy prime numbers?

I see no reason why they would do that. Prime numbers can be used for encryption, but there are algorithms that can quickly generate a more or less random prime number. No need to pay for the "discovery" of a specific number!


How are prime numbers being used in the world around us and in our everyday life?

Data encryption, used for personal identification numbers (PINs) and for secure communications over the internet are based on very large prime numbers.

Related questions

Why should prime numbers only be used as encryption keys?

prime numbers only be used as encryption keys as in encryption the numbers are coded inj the form of 0s and 1s ,i.e binary form.


Why are prime numbers useful in retail?

Prime numbers are used in encryption of financial transactions.


Why are prime numbers important?

They're used extensively in encryption.


Which relies on prime numbers to generate keys?

Data encryption.


How do you use prime numbers in real life?

Data encryption, used for personal identification numbers (PINs) and for secure communications over the internet are based on very large prime numbers.


Why are prime number needed nowadays?

One interesting application of HUGE prime numbers is in encryption. Many systems used nowadays for encryption use more or less random prime numbers, of over a hundred digits each. This is by no means the only practical application of prime numbers. More examples of practical uses can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_number#Applications


What use do large prime numbers have in the real world?

Cryptography - that is, generating security codes for encryption of data.


Does the CIA buy prime numbers?

I see no reason why they would do that. Prime numbers can be used for encryption, but there are algorithms that can quickly generate a more or less random prime number. No need to pay for the "discovery" of a specific number!


Why do you use large prime numbers?

Large primes numbers are used in public key encryption systems as when multiplied together to create an even larger composite number it is extremely difficult to factorise this number into its component primes - this is what gives the encryption its strength. It is the knowledge of the large prime factors of the even larger composite number which allows the encryption and decryption keys to be determined; they are dependent on each other and the prime factors.


How are prime numbers being used in the world around us and in our everyday life?

Data encryption, used for personal identification numbers (PINs) and for secure communications over the internet are based on very large prime numbers.


What are the uses of composite number?

Public key encryption is based on composite numbers. In fact it is based on composite numbers which are the product of two very large prime numbers.


What is the importance of prime numbers in network security?

Prime numbers form the basis of most encryption algorithms, which are used to protect sensitive data such as credit card information, passwords, etc. Any natural number greater than one can be written as a product of prime numbers. The prime factorization is unambiguous, that is, for any natural number N, there is exactly one product of prime numbers. Multiplying prime factors is quick and easy. For example, the product of the two prime numbers 29 and 31 is 899. It is much harder to take 899, and find its prime factors. For very large numbers, such as 150-digit prime numbers, finding the prime factorisation is near impossible - and it is this difficulty that forms the basis of encryption algorithms.