Link Encryption

Noun · Security & Infosec

Definitions

  1. Encryption applied hop by hop on a communication link so traffic is protected while traversing each segment, but may be decrypted and re-encrypted at intermediate devices. Link encryption differs from end-to-end encryption because every transit node on the path may still see plaintext.

    In plain English: Encrypting each network link along a route rather than protecting data from sender all the way to receiver.

    Example: "The microwave backhaul used link encryption, which protected the radio hop but not the traffic inside each endpoint router."

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