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Protecting your systemsChapter 8

Encryption without the maths

Symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing, signatures, TLS, certificates, HTTPS and HSTS made simple, plus how to read a TLS grade from A+ to F.

Belinda
Presented byBelinda
9 min readUpdated on 2 October 2026

What you will learn

  • Tell symmetric and asymmetric encryption apart using everyday analogies
  • Understand what hashing and digital signatures are for
  • Follow a TLS connection step by step and see why forward secrecy matters
  • Know what the HTTPS padlock guarantees, and above all what it does not
  • Read a TLS grade from A+ to F and avoid the mistakes that drag it down

Free chapter with your account

Chapter 1 is free to read. Chapters 2 to 21, like the Junior, Senior and Expert levels of the Cyber Quiz, are free too: all you need is a free KrakenShield account with a confirmed email address.

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From theory to practice

So how does your system measure up?

Create your account and get an A+ to F grade for your domains’ encryption in minutes, with every finding explained and the fix to apply.

Run the audit from your account: an A+ to F grade for your domains’ encryption in minutes, with every finding explained and the fix to apply.

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Belinda

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