To encrypt something is to turn it into a special code so that strangers who see it cannot read it. Only someone with the right key — a password, a secret number, a matching program — can turn it back into ordinary words. We do this most of all with computers: messages, bank details, photos on a phone.

To encrypt something is to turn it into a special codeTo encrypt某個東西，就是把它轉換成一種特殊的密碼, so that strangers who see it cannot read it讓看到的陌生人沒辦法讀懂。 Only someone with the right key只有握有正確金鑰的人 — a password, a secret number, a matching program一組密碼、一組秘密的數字、或是相配的程式 — can turn it back into ordinary words才能把它轉換回原本的文字。 We do this most of all with computers我們最常在電腦上做這件事: messages, bank details, photos on a phone像是訊息、銀行資料、手機裡的照片

Though actually, the idea is older than computers; armies and lovers have long hidden writing. Older people may still hear a spy story in the word; younger people meet it every day in apps that promise a private chat. It is a fairly computer-ish word that has walked into ordinary life because so much of life is on a screen.

Though actually不過其實, the idea is older than computers這個概念比電腦還要古老; armies and lovers have long hidden writing軍隊和情人早就會把文字藏起來。 Older people may still hear a spy story in the word年紀大一點的人聽到這個字可能還會想到間諜故事; younger people meet it every day in apps that promise a private chat年輕人則是每天都會在標榜私密對話的app裡遇到它。 It is a fairly computer-ish word that has walked into ordinary life這是個偏電腦用語、但已經走進日常生活的字 because so much of life is on a screen因為現在生活有太多都在螢幕上發生

Nearby word, different job: encode can mean “put into any kind of symbols,” even ones that are not secret. Encrypt is specifically to hide.

Nearby word, different job有個長得很像但工作不同的字: encode can mean "put into any kind of symbols,"encode可以指「轉換成任何一種符號」, even ones that are not secret就算那些符號根本不是秘密也一樣。 Encrypt is specifically to hideEncrypt則是specifically要把東西藏起來