Cryptography and its Types
Cryptography is a technique of securing information and
communications using codes to ensure confidentiality, integrity and
authentication. Thus, preventing unauthorized access to information.
The prefix "crypt" means "hidden" and the suffix "graphy" means
"writing". In Cryptography, the techniques that are used to protect
information are obtained from mathematical concepts and a set of rule-
based calculations known as algorithms to convert messages in ways
that make it hard to decode them. These algorithms are used for
cryptographic key generation, digital signing, and verification to protect
data privacy, web browsing on the internet and to protect confidential
transactions such as credit card and debit card transactions.
Features Of Cryptography
The features of cryptography that makes it a popular choice in various
applications could be listed down as:
1. Confidentiality: Information can only be accessed by the person for
whom it is intended and no other person except him can access it.
2. Integrity: Information cannot be modified in storage or transition
between sender and intended receiver without any addition to
information being detected.
3. Non-repudiation: The creator/sender of information cannot deny his
intention to send information at a later stage.
4. Authentication: The identities of the sender and receiver are
confirmed. As well destination/origin of the information is confirmed.
5. Interoperability: Cryptography allows for secure communication
between different systems and platforms.
6. Adaptability: Cryptography continuously evolves to stay ahead of
security threats and technological advancements.
How Does a Cryptographic Key Work?
As we all know that cryptography technique is use to convert plain text
into ciphertext. This technique is done by cryptographic key. Basically
cryptographic key is a string of characters which is used to encrypts the
data and decrypt the data.
"Geeks for Geeks" + ⚿ = "HYMeAS90#"
For example- "Geeks for Geeks" is a plaintext and convert into
ciphertext "HYMeAS90#" with the help of cryptographic key.
Types Of Cryptography
There are three types of cryptography, namely Symmetric Key
Cryptography, Asymmetric Key Cryptography and Hash functions,
here's a detailed explanation below:
1. Symmetric Key Cryptography
Symmetric Key Cryptography is an encryption system where the
sender and receiver of a message use a single common key to encrypt
and decrypt messages. Symmetric Key cryptography is faster and
simpler but the problem is that the sender and receiver have to
somehow exchange keys securely. The most popular symmetric key
cryptography systems are Data Encryption Systems (DES) and
Advanced Encryption Systems (AES) .
Symmetric Key Cryptography
2. Hash Functions
There is no key required in hash function cryptography as it uses
mathematical equations to genrate a hash message for nay arbitrary
length of message, and the output will be of fixed length. Some of the
famous hash function are:
SHA-256
MD5
MD6
3. Asymmetric Key Cryptography
In Asymmetric Key Cryptography , a pair of keys is used to encrypt and
decrypt information. A sender's public key is used for encryption and a
receiver's private key is used for decryption. Public keys and Private keys
are different. Even if the public key is known by everyone the intended
receiver can only decode it because he holds his private key. The most
popular asymmetric key cryptography algorithm is the RSA algorithm.
Asymmetric Key Cryptography
Applications of Cryptography
Cryptography has wide area of applications in the modern world, where
the technology is rapidly evolving. From authentication measures to
cryptocurrencies, cryptography is here to stay, these are some of the
most common applications of cryptography listed below:
Computer passwords: Cryptography is widely utilized in computer
security, particularly when creating and maintaining passwords.
When a user logs in, their password is hashed and compared to the
hash that was previously stored. Passwords are hashed and
encrypted before being stored. In this technique, the passwords are
encrypted so that even if a hacker gains access to the password
database, they cannot read Open
the passwords.
In App
Digital Currencies: To protect transactions and prevent fraud, digital
currencies like Bitcoin also use cryptography. Complex algorithms
and cryptographic keys are used to safeguard transactions, making it
nearly hard to tamper with or forge the transactions.
Secure web browsing: Online browsing security is provided by the
use of cryptography, which shields users from eavesdropping and
man-in-the-middle assaults. Public key cryptography is used by the
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS)
protocols to encrypt data sent between the web server and the
client, establishing a secure channel for communication.
Electronic Signatures: Electronic signatures serve as the digital
equivalent of a handwritten signature and are used to sign
documents. Digital signatures are created using cryptography and
can be validated using public key cryptography. In many nations,
electronic signatures are enforceable by law, and their use is
expanding quickly.
Authentication: Cryptography is used for authentication in many
different situations, such as when accessing a bank account, logging
into a computer, or using a secure network. Cryptographic methods
are employed by authentication protocols to confirm the user's
identity and confirm that they have the required access rights to the
resource.
Cryptocurrencies: Cryptography is heavily used by cryptocurrencies
like Bitcoin and Ethereum to protect transactions, thwart fraud, and
maintain the network's integrity. Complex algorithms and
cryptographic keys are used to safeguard transactions, making it
nearly hard to tamper with or forge the transactions.
End-to-end Internet Encryption: End-to-end encryption is used to
protect two-way communications like video conversations, instant
messages, and email. Even if the message is encrypted, it assures
that only the intended receivers can read the message. End-to-end
encryption is widely used in communication apps like WhatsApp and
Signal, and it provides a high level of security and privacy for users.
Types of Cryptography Algorithm Optional (may skip)
Cryptography Algorithms can be classified into several categories
based on the way they utilize and manage their keys, their efficiency
and workflow, here are the most common algorithms
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES): AES (Advanced Encryption
Standard) is a popular encryption algorithm which uses the same key
for encryption and decryption It is a symmetric block cipher algorithm
with block size of 128 bits, 192 bits or 256 bits. AES algorithm is
widely regarded as the replacement of DES (Data encryption
standard) algorithm.
Data Encryption Standard (DES): DES (Data encryption standard) is
an older encryption algorithm that is used to convert 64-bit plaintext
data into 48-bit encrypted ciphertext. It uses symmetric keys (which
means same key for encryption and decryption). It is kind of old by
today’s standard but can be used as a basic building block for
learning newer encryption algorithms.
RSA: RSA is an basic asymmetric cryptographic algorithm which
uses two different keys for encryption. The RSA algorithm works on
a block cipher concept that converts plain text into cipher text and
vice versa.
Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA): SHA is used to generate unique
fixed-length digital fingerprints of input data known as hashes. SHA
variations such as SHA-2 and SHA-3 are commonly used to ensure
data integrity and authenticity. The tiniest change in input data
drastically modifies the hash output, indicating a loss of integrity.
Hashing is the process of storing key value pairs with the help of a
hash function into a hash table.
Advantages of Cryptography
Cryptography has some remarkable features that makes it widely
adapted all over the world in different technologies, here are few points
that makes it stand out:
Cryptography can be used for access control to ensure that only
parties with the proper permissions have access to a resource.
For secure online communication, it offers secure mechanisms for
transmitting private information like passwords, bank account
numbers, and other sensitive data over the Internet.
It helps in the defense against various types of assaults including
replay and man-in-the-middle attacks.
Cryptography can help firms in meeting a variety of legal
requirements including data protection and privacy legislation.
Conclusion
Cryptography is used to secure information and communications by
converting data into coded formats, ensuring confidentiality, integrity,
and authentication. It is essential for a wide range of applications,
including securing online transactions, web browsing, passwords,
digital currencies, and authentication.
Cryptography continuously evolves to stay ahead of security threats,
offering solutions such as symmetric key encryption (AES), asymmetric
key encryption (RSA), and hash functions (SHA) to ensure data privacy
and integrity.
With its widespread applications in fields like secure web browsing,
cryptocurrencies, electronic signatures, and end-to-end encryption,
cryptography plays a vital role in protecting sensitive data from
malicious actors. As digital threats continue to rise, cryptography
ensures that only authorized parties can access, modify, or transmit
critical information securely.