Despite its reputation as a language only of spies and hackers, cryptography
plays a critical role in our everyday lives. Though often invisible, it
underpins the security of our mobile phone calls, credit card payments, web
searches, internet messaging, and cryptocurrencies?in short, everything we do
online. Increasingly, it also runs in the background of our smart refrigerators,
thermostats, electronic car keys, and even the cars themselves. As our daily
devices get smarter, cyberspace--home to all the networks that connect
them--grows.
Broadly defined as a set of tools for establishing security in this expanding
cyberspace, cryptography enables us to protect and share our information.
Understanding the basics of cryptography is