Understanding Cryptography

Cryptography is the foundation of modern cybersecurity. Learn the fundamentals and advanced concepts.

Symmetric vs Asymmetric Encryption

Symmetric Encryption

• Uses same key for encryption and decryption
• Faster but key distribution is challenging
• Examples: AES, DES, 3DES

Asymmetric Encryption

• Uses public and private key pairs
• Slower but solves key distribution
• Examples: RSA, ECC, ElGamal

Hash Functions

• One-way functions
• Used for integrity verification
• Examples: SHA-256, MD5, bcrypt

Real-World Applications

• HTTPS/TLS
• Digital signatures
• Password storage
• Cryptocurrency

Understanding cryptography is essential for any security professional!