midCryptography
How does the RSA algorithm work?
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
An asymmetric algorithm based on the practical difficulty of factoring the product of two large prime numbers.
Deep explanation
Mid-level cryptography moves into protocol design and implementation details. Understanding how primitives like Diffie-Hellman combine with AES to create a secure channel is key.
Real-world example
VPNs use Diffie-Hellman to establish a shared secret without ever sending the secret key over the wire.
Common mistakes
- Reusing an Initialization Vector (IV) with the same key in AES-GCM.
Follow-up questions
- What is the difference between AES-CBC and AES-GCM?
- Why is RSA slower than AES?