Modern Cryptography in Practice: Securing Information Through Algorithms

Description:

In a world increasingly reliant on secure digital communication, Modern Cryptography in Practice: Securing Information Through Algorithms offers undergraduate IT and cybersecurity students a comprehensive and approachable introduction to the vital field of cryptography. This textbook demystifies the complex algorithms, protocols, and mathematical foundations that underpin modern security systems and equips learners with the conceptual and practical tools needed to protect information in both enterprise and everyday contexts. Beginning with a historical perspective, the book traces the evolution of cryptographic practices from classical ciphers and mechanical devices to today’s advanced encryption standards and public key infrastructures. Students explore key concepts such as confidentiality, integrity, availability, and non-repudiation, while gaining fluency in real-world applications including HTTPS, secure email, digital signatures, and VPN technologies.

Chapters on symmetric and asymmetric cryptography illuminate how algorithms like AES, RSA, and ECC are used to safeguard data, enable secure communication, and enforce authentication protocols. Mathematical foundations—such as modular arithmetic, prime factorization, discrete logarithms, and randomness—are presented with clarity, reinforcing cryptographic theory with hands-on relevance. The book also explores secure hashing, message authentication codes, certificate authorities, digital certificates, and the workings of PKI in real-world deployments. Students are introduced to critical cryptographic protocols (TLS, IPsec, Signal), emerging blockchain applications, and the defensive design strategies needed to combat cryptanalysis, brute-force attacks, side-channel exploits, and protocol downgrade threats. Future-focused chapters highlight the ethical implications of encryption, the rise of post-quantum and privacy-preserving cryptographic systems, and the impact of artificial intelligence on cryptographic resilience and key management. Through detailed explanations, regulatory connections, and real-world examples, Modern Cryptography in Practice prepares students for the technical and ethical challenges of securing digital systems in an evolving threat landscape.

Key Features:

• Clear explanations of symmetric, asymmetric, and hash-based cryptographic systems with modern real-world examples.
• Mathematical foundation chapters covering modular arithmetic, group theory, probability, and entropy.
• Practical guidance on implementing encryption, hashing, digital signatures, and cryptographic protocols.
• In-depth exploration of PKI, certificate authorities, TLS/SSL, blockchain, and VPN technologies.
• Dedicated coverage of cryptanalysis techniques, protocol attacks, and algorithmic defense strategies.
• Forward-looking discussion of post-quantum cryptography, zero-knowledge proofs, and ethical issues in encryption.

Ideal For:

Undergraduate students in information technology, cybersecurity, or computer science; aspiring professionals preparing for careers in secure systems design, cryptographic software development, or information assurance; instructors seeking a comprehensive cryptography textbook; and learners pursuing foundational knowledge aligned with regulatory compliance and modern security practices.

Walsh College Students: This is the required textbook for IT463: Cryptography

ISBN-13: 979-8-9988425-8-0

Format: E-Book