Private Key

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A Private Key, also known as a secret key, is a variable in cryptography that is used with an algorithm to encrypt and decrypt code. Secret keys are only shared with the key’s generator, making it highly secure. Private Keys play an important role in symmetric cryptography, asymmetric cryptography, and cryptocurrencies.

The complexity and length of the private key determine how feasible it is for an interloper to carry out a brute force attack and try out different keys until the right one is found.

Public Keys can be used to encrypt data by anyone with access to the public key. The Private Key is required to decrypt the data.

Source: https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/private-key