Decrypting encrypted data safely requires proper handling of initialization vectors, authentication tags, and error checking in Node.js applications. As the creator of CoreUI, a widely used open-source UI library, I’ve implemented secure decryption patterns in numerous Node.js backend systems and enterprise applications. From my 25 years of experience in web development and 11 years with Node.js, the most secure and reliable approach is to use the built-in crypto module with proper AES decryption and authentication verification. This method ensures data integrity and prevents tampering attacks.