Difference between Obfuscation and Encrypt

Key Difference: Encryption refers to the technique of keeping sensitive information secret by changing the form of the information. It is changed to an unreadable form for safekeeping. Obfuscation is quiet similar to encryption. However, the term is often used to protect program code rather than general data. It deals with transforming data into some form of difficulty. An algorithm is used for encryption and obfuscation. The main difference between them is that even if the algorithm is known, the encrypted data cannot be understood without the necessary key for decryption. On the other hand, scrambled data can be understood simply by knowing the algorithm used for encryption. It does not require a key.

Confidentiality is very important in the context for any relevant information. Vulnerabilities in the system can often lead to disastrous results in the absence of a secure system. Encryption and obfuscation are two keywords related to secure systems.

Encrypt transactions with the security of important information. However, obfuscation is often used in programming languages, as it concerns the security of the programming code. In encryption, data is converted into some other form that is incomprehensible to others. Entities that know about the keys (required to decrypt data) can only understand the actual information.

It is important to mention that encryption and decryption methods can also be different. Encryption plays an important role in today's world where most of the information is exchanged over the internet. Encrypted data remains safe as long as the keys are secure.

Obfuscation is also very similar to encryption because it is based on the same concept of encryption; to provide security. However, the word is used in context to get program code, not general data. It is used to convert passwords and definitions of views, stored procedures, functions, etc. into an unreadable format. However, obfuscated entities can be reverse engineered, which means the code can be decompiled and studied.

For example, SQL Server can obfuscate stored procedure definitions, view definitions, etc. The term can also be used for any type of data mask. It can be as simple as even reversing the order of the letters. Unlike encryption, it does not require information of the keys to know the original information. For obfuscate, this person can undo the obfuscation without any keys.

An algorithm is used for encryption and obfuscation. The main difference between them is that even if the algorithm is known, the encrypted data cannot be understood without the necessary key for decryption. On the other hand, scrambled data can be understood simply by knowing about the algorithm used for encryption. It does not require a key.