Suggest an editImprove this articleRefine the answer for “Why is encryption needed in networks?”. Your changes go to moderation before they’re published.Approval requiredContentWhat you’re changing🇺🇸EN🇺🇦UAPreviewTitle (EN)Short answer (EN)**Encryption in networks** is needed to protect data in transit and make it useless to outsiders, even if the traffic is intercepted. **Key point:** encryption supports confidentiality, integrity, and partly the authentication of the parties involved.Shown above the full answer for quick recall.Answer (EN)Image**Encryption in networks** is needed to **protect data while it is in transit** and to make it **useless to outsiders**, even if the traffic is intercepted. In simple terms: *encryption turns data into an "unreadable set of characters" that only someone with the key can understand.* --- ## The main problem without encryption Data on a network travels through: - the internet, - routers, - providers, - public Wi-Fi. If the data **is not encrypted**, it can be: - eavesdropped on; - copied; - altered. Anyone who intercepts the traffic will see everything "as is." --- ## Why encryption is specifically needed ### 1. Protecting confidentiality **So that outsiders cannot read the data.** Examples: - passwords; - banking data; - private correspondence; - corporate information. Even if the traffic is intercepted, it will be useless. --- ### 2. Protection from interception (MITM) Encryption protects against attacks such as: - sniffing; - man-in-the-middle. Without the key, an attacker cannot understand the content or alter it unnoticed. --- ### 3. Protecting data integrity Encryption (together with cryptographic mechanisms): - allows changes to the data to be detected; - guarantees that the data was not altered along the way. If the data was changed, the connection is considered invalid. --- ### 4. Confirming authenticity Encryption helps confirm that: - you are communicating with the **real server**; - not with a fake one. This is especially important for websites, banks and APIs. --- ### 5. Compliance with requirements and standards In many cases, encryption is: - required by law; - required by security standards; - necessary when working with personal data. --- ## Where encryption is used in networks - HTTPS, protecting web traffic; - VPN, protecting the connection between networks; - Wi-Fi, protecting the wireless network; - email, protecting messages; - APIs, protecting data exchange between services. --- ## Which security properties it provides Encryption directly supports: - **Confidentiality**, the data is hidden; - **Integrity**, the data is not altered; - partly - **Authentication**, confirming the parties involved.For the reviewerNote to the moderator (optional)Visible only to the moderator. Helps review go faster.