Everyday Cryptography

Cryptography is a vital technology that underpins the security of information in computer networks. This book presents a comprehensive introduction to the role that cryptography plays in providing information security for technologies such as the Internet, mobile phones, payment cards, and wireless local area networks. Focusing on the fundamental principles that ground modern cryptography as they arise in modern applications, it avoids both an over-reliance on transient technologies and overwhelming theoretical research. The first part of the book provides essential background, identifying the core security services provided by cryptography. The next part introduces the main cryptographic mechanisms that deliver these security services such as encryption, hash functions, and digital signatures, discussing why they work and how to deploy them, without delving into any significant mathematical detail. In the third part, the important practical aspects of key management are introduced, which is essential for making cryptography work in real systems. The last part considers the application of cryptography. A range of application case studies is presented, alongside a discussion of the wider societal issues arising from use of cryptography to support contemporary cyber security.