CRYPTOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION:
Cryptography is the science of protecting information using mathematical techniques to ensure
confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. It transforms readable data into unreadable form,
preventing unauthorized access and tampering.
Converts plaintext into ciphertext using algorithms and keys
Ensures confidentiality, integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation
Used in secure communication, digital signatures, passwords, and online transactions
CORE CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES:
Encryption & Decryption: The process of converting readable information (plaintext) into an
unintelligible format (ciphertext) and reversing it, respectively.
Keys: Confidential, often numerical, data that dictates the algorithm's transformation, critical for
security.
Symmetric Cryptography: Uses the same key for both encryption and decryption, suitable for fast
data transfer but requires secure key exchange.
Asymmetric Cryptography (Public Key): Uses a pair of keys—a public key for encryption and a
private key for decryption—enabling secure communication without prior key sharing.
Hash Functions: Creates a unique, fixed-size string (fingerprint) from data to verify data integrity.
FEATURES OF CRYPTOGRAPHY:
Confidentiality: Information can only be accessed by the person for whom it is intended and no other person except
him can access it.
Non-repudiation: The creator/sender of information cannot deny his intention to send information at a later stage.
Integrity: Information cannot be modified in storage or transition between sender and intended receiver without any
addition to information being detected.
Adaptability: Cryptography continuously evolves to stay ahead of security threats and technological advancements.
Interoperability: Cryptography allows for secure communication between different systems and platforms.
Authentication: The identities of the sender and receiver are confirmed. As well destination/origin of the information
is confirmed.
WORKING OF CRYPTOGRAPHY:
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.
Plaintext is created
The original readable message or data.
A cryptographic algorithm is chosen
Example: AES, RSA, SHA-256, etc.
A key is applied
This key controls how the encryption or hashing is performed.
Encryption converts plaintext → ciphertext
The data becomes unreadable to unauthorized users.
Ciphertext is transmitted or stored securely
Even if intercepted, it cannot be understood without the correct
key.
Decryption converts ciphertext → plaintext
The receiver uses the correct key (same key for symmetric,
different for asymmetric).
Integrity checks may be used
Hashing ensures the message has not been altered.
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) .
2. Hash Functions:
Hash functions do not require a key. Instead, they use mathematical algorithms to convert messages of any
arbitrary length into a fixed-length output, known as a hash value or [Link] functions are designed to be
one-way, meaning the original input cannot be derived from the [Link] Below, Some of the most widely
used hash functions include:
SHA-1:
SHA-1 stands for Secure Hash Algorithm 1.
It is a cryptographic hash function developed by the National Security Agency (NSA) and published by NIST in
1995.
It was designed to ensure data integrity by converting any input into a fixed-size 160-bit (20-byte) hash value.
SHA-256:
The SHA-256 algorithm belongs to the family of the SHA 2 algorithms.
It generates a fixed 256-bit (32-byte) hash value from input data of any length.
It is widely used in various security applications, including data integrity verification, digital signatures,
blockchain technology, and password hashing, due to its strength and resistance to known cryptographic
attacks.
MD5:
MD5 produces a 128-bit hash value (32-character hexadecimal number) from input data
of any size.
Originally designed for data integrity verification, MD5 was widely used for checksums,
digital signatures, and file verification.
MD6:
MD6 is a cryptographic hash function designed by Ronald Rivest and his team in 2008 as
a successor to the MD5 and MD4 algorithms.
It was created to be highly secure and suitable for modern computing systems, including
multi-core processors.
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
Examples:
RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman)
ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography)
APPLICATIONS OF CRYPTOGRAPHY:
Cryptography has wide area of applications in the modern world, where the technology is rapidly evolving.
These are some of the most common applications of cryptography listed below:
1. Password Security: Passwords are hashed before storage to prevent exposure even if the database is
leaked.
2. Digital Currencies: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies use cryptography for transaction integrity and identity
protection.
3. Secure Web Browsing (HTTPS): SSL/TLS protocols encrypt communication between browser and server.
4. Electronic Signatures: Legally valid digital signatures created using public-key cryptography.
5. Authentication Systems: Used in bank logins, secure networks, and access control systems.
6. End-to-End Encryption: Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal ensure only intended users read the
messages.
CONCLUSION:
In summary, cryptography is the indispensable backbone of digital security, evolving from ancient
hidden scripts into a sophisticated science of mathematical algorithms. It serves as a foundational
pillar that ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of global data across various sectors.
Ultimately, as our world becomes increasingly interconnected, cryptography remains the primary tool
for maintaining trust and privacy in an adversarial digital landscape
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