What role does encryption play in securing virtual data?
Encryption is the process of converting information or data into a code, especially to prevent unauthorized access. When you're online, your data is vulnerable to cyber threats, making encryption a critical shield in your cybersecurity arsenal. It scrambles your data, turning it into ciphertext that is unreadable without the proper key. This means that even if a hacker intercepts your data, without the key, it's gibberish to them. Encryption doesn't prevent cyberattacks, but it does secure your data, making it a formidable barrier against data breaches and identity theft.