What is Homomorphic Encryption?

Homomorphic Encryption is a cryptographic technique that allows computations to be performed on encrypted data without decrypting it first. This means that data can be processed while still encrypted, preserving its confidentiality and security throughout the computation. Once the computation is complete, the result can be decrypted to reveal the output as if the operations were carried out on the original, unencrypted data.

Homomorphic encryption allows for privacy-preserving computation in a wide range of applications, from private search engines and encrypted databases to secure cloud data processing. An example is Microsoft’s ElectionGuard which uses homomorphic encryption to secure voting results. It encrypts each vote and provides voters with tracking codes to verify their vote was counted while keeping their choices private.