Encryption is used to achieve four main results.
- Integrity ensures that the data has not been altered en route by either a hacker or an error.
- Privacy ensures that only the intended participants can read the data.
- Authentication identifies the party who sent the information.
- Non-repudiation proves that the correct party did indeed send the information.
It is possible for a hacker to falsely authenticate himself if he acquires a username and password, but non-repudiation will indicate whether information came from the wrong source.