Introduction to Cryptography

Exploring the science of securing information through encoding.

What is Cryptography?

Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties. It involves creating written or generated codes that allow information to be kept secret.

Core Principles

1. Confidentiality

Ensuring that information is not accessible to unauthorized individuals.

2. Integrity

Maintaining the accuracy and completeness of data.

3. Authentication

Verifying the identities of the parties involved in communication.

Common Cryptographic Techniques

Hash Functions: Convert data into fixed-size hashes (e.g., SHA-256).
Symmetric Key Cryptography: Same key for encryption and decryption (e.g., AES).
Asymmetric Key Cryptography: Public and private keys for encryption and decryption (e.g., RSA).

Applications of Cryptography

Secure Communications: Encrypting emails, messages, and data transfers.
Digital Signatures: Verifying the authenticity of digital documents.
Blockchain Technology: Ensuring secure and immutable transactions.

          
            # Example: Generating a SHA-256 hash in Python

            import hashlib

            hash_object = hashlib.sha256(b'Hello World')

            hex_dig = hash_object.hexdigest()

            print(hex_dig)

Conclusion

Cryptography is essential for securing digital information. Understanding its principles is crucial for anyone involved in cybersecurity.

Back to Tutorials