Securing symmetric encryption algorithms in Java is crucial due to the wide spread of Java applications in various sectors, from banking to healthcare, handling sensitive data. Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption, making it faster but less secure when the key needs to be shared. Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys (public and private), ideal for securely sharing keys over a network. It is essential to rely on services that leverage hardware security modules (HSMs) or use secure modes like AES/GCM/NoPadding, which are currently recommended by OWASP and NIST cryptographic standards and guidelines. Using outdated encryption algorithms, such as DES or 3DES, can lead to potential risks due to known vulnerabilities. It is recommended to continuously review and monitor encryption algorithms in Java applications using a static analysis security testing (SAST) tool like Snyk Code for free.