Cryptography is the process of hiding or coding information so that only the person a message was intended for can read it. The art of cryptography has been used to code messages for thousands of years and cont
Cryptology, which encompasses both cryptography and cryptanalysis, is deeply rooted in computer science and advanced mathematics. The history of cryptography dates back to ancient times when Julius Caesar created the Caesar cipher to obscure the content of his messages from the messengers who carried th...
In the digital era, the goal of cryptography remains the same: to prevent information exchanged between two parties being swiped by an adversary. Computer scientists often refer to the two parties as “Alice and Bob,” fictional entities first introduced in a 1978 article describing a digital enc...
Cryptography is what puts the "crypto" in "cryptocurrency." Image source: Getty Images. What is cryptography? A simple dictionary definition of cryptography, courtesy of Merriam-Webster, is "the enciphering and deciphering of messages in secret code or cipher." Or, when it c...
cryptography uses encryption and decryption methods. According to American cryptographer and computer security expert Bruce Schneier, cryptography is “the art and science of keeping messages secure.”The cryptography method transforms plain text into encrypted text (aka ciphertext) using the encryption key...
Modern cryptography exists through the combination of advanced mathematics, computer science, communication, and engineering processes. Computers and operating systems use complex encryption methods to encode messages so only authorized parties can see them. The message, or plaintext, is converted into cip...
In the digital era, the goal of cryptography remains the same: to prevent information exchanged between two parties being swiped by an adversary. Computer scientists often refer to the two parties as “Alice and Bob,” fictional entities first introduced in a 1978 article describing a digital enc...
Origins of cryptography While modern cryptology is firmly rooted in computer science, mathematics and engineering principles, the practice of encoding information is ancient. Ancient Greeks used scytale devices As far back as 600BC, Greek leaders used scytale devices (early encryption tools) to send ...
Cryptography's history A more modern approach to cryptography is from Blaise de Vigenère, a Frenchman in the 16th century, and represents an early approach to encoding the message via an encryption key in what became known as theVigenère cipher. In this approach, an encryption key is used, ...
What Is a Key in Cryptography? A cryptographic key is a piece of information, often a string of numbers and letters, used to encrypt and decrypt data. It’s essential for protecting information, as it acts like a digital lock and key. ...