Understanding Cryptography and Encryption

September 4, 2022

The study of data encryption and decryption techniques is the focus of the mathematical discipline of cryptography. Encryption uses an algorithm, or cipher, to turn plain text into ciphertext, a coded communication. Authorized people with unique expertise may only access the data, sometimes referred to as a key.

Nearly all references to encryption, which is the act of turning standard information (known as plaintext) into nonsensical nonsense, are to cryptography, which is both an art and a science called ciphertext. Another way to put it is that communicating in the presence of an adversary is what cryptography is all about. In the emerging information society, cryptography ensures the permission, authentication, integrity, secrecy, and non-repudiation of all conversations and data transfers.

Computer data may be protected via encryption, including files on computers and external storage devices. Encryption serves as a safeguard against unauthorized access to sensitive data. Particularly for sensitive data, this is crucial. Such data is protected by encryption in case physical protection measures are unsuccessful.

Data encrypted with a password or secret key must be decoded during the decryption process. It won’t be feasible to get the encryption key and then decode the encoded data if the password is incorrect.

Cryptography was almost exclusively used in political, military, and diplomatic settings until the 1970s. The finance and telecommunications sectors implemented hardware cryptography devices in the 1980s. The digital mobile phone system in the late 1980s was the first widespread cryptographic application.

Today, everyone uses cryptography regularly. Some examples include using a remote control to open a car or garage door, connecting to a wireless LAN, using a credit or debit card to make purchases in-person or online, updating software, making voice-over-IP calls, or paying for a ride on a public transportation system.

There is little question that new application fields like e-health, auto telematics, and smart buildings will increase the use of cryptography. At the nexus of computer science, mathematics, and electrical engineering, cryptology is a fascinating field. It is challenging to keep up with all the innovations in cryptology since it moves so quickly.

The theoretical underpinnings of the field have been enhanced over the last 25 years; we now have a firm grasp on how to define security and demonstrate that a building is secure. Applied cryptography is also undergoing rapid growth, with outdated algorithms being abandoned and replaced by new ones.

Everything now incorporates cryptography, including Web browsers, email clients, mobile devices, credit cards, automobiles, and even medical implants. Radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags for anti-counterfeiting or car-to-car communications are just a few of the fascinating new cryptography applications that will be available soon.

This is a significant shift from the past, when cryptography had often only been used in narrow applications, including financial systems and government communications. Due to the widespread use of crypto algorithms, more and more individuals need to grasp how they operate and how to use them in real-world situations.

Sam Fareed

Lead Instructor qualified in CISSP, CCIE, and MCT with 25 years of training experience in Toronto.