What Is Cryptography?
Cryptography is the practice of using codes and ciphers to protect information from unauthorized access. It involves transforming plaintext into ciphertext, which can only be decrypted by someone with the correct key or algorithm. Cryptography has been used for centuries to secure communications between two parties, but it has become increasingly important in today’s digital world as more data is stored online and transmitted over networks.
Modern cryptography uses a variety of techniques such as public-key encryption, hashing algorithms, digital signatures, and message authentication codes (MACs). These methods are designed to ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data while also ensuring its integrity during transmission. Cryptographic systems are essential for protecting financial transactions on the internet, securing emails sent through email servers, and authenticating user identities when logging into websites or applications.