“We found this when we were cleaning out my late grandpa’s home. We have no idea what it is and we’re so curious. Any ideas?”

Today, encryption protects:

Financial transactions

Medical records

Government communications

Personal messages

Cloud storage

When you send a message through apps like WhatsApp or Signal, end-to-end encryption ensures that only you and the recipient can read the content.

Even companies themselves cannot easily access the messages.

But with greater encryption comes greater debate.

Privacy vs. Security: The Modern Dilemma
In the 21st century, codebreaking isn’t just about wartime espionage. It’s about privacy, law enforcement, and national security.

Governments argue that strong encryption can shield criminal activity. Privacy advocates counter that weakening encryption threatens civil liberties.