Encryption can protect data in transit or at rest, depending on how a system is designed. The endpoints, key management, and access controls determine where that protection begins and ends.
Transport encryption protects a connection. It does not, by itself, prevent the receiving service from reading or storing the data. End-to-end designs have a different model and still depend on their endpoints.
Ask the precise question: who can access the information in this particular system? That answer is more useful than treating the word “encrypted” as a complete description.
- Identify the endpoints.
- Check which parties hold access or keys.
- Distinguish transport protection from stored-data handling.
Picture this situation.
Imagine sending a protected attachment to the wrong intended recipient. The protection and the recipient choice address different parts of the sharing decision.
A second way to look.
Information can travel further than its original purpose. Review the copies, attachments, and exports that may remain after the immediate task is finished.
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MDN: privacy on the web MDN: web security
