Cryptography

Cryptography

Cryptography (pronounced krip-TAH-gruh-fee) is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties called adversaries. The term is derived from the Greek words "kryptos" meaning hidden and "graphein" meaning to write.

Etymology

The term "cryptography" is derived from the Greek words "kryptos" and "graphein". "Kryptos" means hidden, secret or concealed, and "graphein" means to write. Thus, cryptography essentially means secret writing.

Related Terms

• Cipher: A cipher (pronounced SAI-fur) is an algorithm for performing encryption or decryption. It is a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure.

• Encryption: Encryption (pronounced en-KRIP-shun) is the method by which information is converted into secret code that hides the information's true meaning.

• Decryption: Decryption (pronounced dee-KRIP-shun) is the process of converting encrypted data back into its original form, so it can be understood.

• Cryptanalysis: Cryptanalysis (pronounced krip-TAN-uh-sis) is the study of analyzing information systems in order to study the hidden aspects of the systems.

• Cryptology: Cryptology (pronounced krip-TOL-uh-jee) is the study of codes, or the art of writing and solving them.

• Cryptosystem: A cryptosystem (pronounced KRIPTO-sis-tem) is a suite or package of cryptographic algorithms that work together to provide a particular service, such as encryption and decryption.

• Key (cryptography): In cryptography, a key (pronounced kee) is a piece of information that determines the functional output of a cryptographic algorithm or cipher.

See Also

• Information security
• Computer security
• Network security

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Cryptography
• Wikipedia's article - Cryptography

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