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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRSA is not a symmetric encryption algorithm; it is a public-key, or asymmetric, cryptographic system. The distinction is the keys: symmetric cryptography uses a shared secret key, while public-key cryptography uses separate, related keys.
How to tell symmetric and asymmetric cryptography apart
In symmetric cryptography, the same secret key is used for the operation and, when applicable, to reverse its effects. AES is a familiar example. In public-key cryptography, the keys are separate but related; this is why it is also called asymmetric cryptography.
NIST’s definition of symmetric cryptography names AES as an example. Its definition of public-key cryptography describes separate keys used for operations such as encryption and digital signing.
Why RSA is not symmetric
RSA is a public-key system, not a shared-secret system. In the introductory encryption example described by NIST, a sender encrypts with the recipient’s public key, and the recipient decrypts with the matching private key. Because those are distinct keys, RSA belongs to the asymmetric category.
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NIST’s introductory cryptography chapter identifies RSA as an early public-key system and contrasts it with DES, a secret-key example. AES and RSA therefore illustrate different key relationships; they should not be treated as interchangeable labels for the same kind of algorithm.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Public-key cryptography is broader than encryption
Not every asymmetric algorithm encrypts arbitrary messages. Public-key cryptography also supports digital signatures: one key can be used to sign, while the related key is used to verify the signature. The operation depends on the particular scheme, so “asymmetric” describes the key relationship, not a promise that every system can perform every cryptographic task.
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