[Ashly Jackson]

Thank you for the great explanation! I really liked how you described symmetric ciphers using the example of a made-up language between friends it made the concept easy to understand and relatable. It’s a great way to show how symmetric encryption works by using the same key for both encrypting and decrypting messages. You also did a good job emphasizing the importance of keeping the key secret, which is critical to protecting confidential information. Including DES as a real-world example helped connect the idea to practical cybersecurity applications. Your post made it clear how symmetric ciphers are used to ensure private communication, whether between individuals or in larger systems. Overall, your description was clear, simple, and very informative.