Secret Key Cryptography

£28.32

Secret Key Cryptography

Ciphers, from simple to unbreakable

Author: Frank Rubin

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Language: English

Published by: Manning

Published on: 30th August 2022

Format: LCP-protected ePub

Size: 11 Mb

ISBN: 9781638351245


Explore the fascinating and rich world of Secret Key cryptography!

This book provides practical methods for encrypting messages, an interesting and entertaining historical perspective, and an incredible collection of ciphers and codes—including 30 unbreakable methods.

In Secret Key Cryptography: Ciphers, from simple to unbreakable you will:

    Measure the strength of your ciphers and learn how to guarantee their security

    Construct and incorporate data-compression codes

    Generate true random numbers in bulk

    Construct huge primes and safe primes

    Add an undetectable backdoor to a cipher

    Defeat hypothetical ultracomputers that could be developed decades from now

    Construct 30 unbreakable ciphers

Secret Key Cryptography gives you a toolbox of cryptographic techniques and Secret Key methods. The book’s simple, non-technical language is easy to understand and accessible for any reader, even without the advanced mathematics normally required for cryptography. You’ll learn how to create and solve ciphers, as well as how to measure their strength. As you go, you’ll explore both historic ciphers and groundbreaking new approaches—including a never-before-seen way to implement the uncrackable One-Time Pad algorithm.

Whoever you are, this book is for you! History buffs will love seeing the evolution of sophisticated cryptographic methods, hobbyists will get a gentle introduction to cryptography, and engineers and computer scientists will learn the principles of constructing secure ciphers. Even professional cryptographers will find a range of new methods and concepts never published before.

About the technology

From the Roman empire’s Caesar cipher to the WWII Enigma machine, secret messages have influenced the course of history. Today, Secret Key cryptography is the backbone of all modern computing infrastructure. Properly designed, these algorithms are efficient and practical. Some are actually unbreakable, even using supercomputers or quantum technology!

About the book

Secret Key Cryptography teaches you how to create Secret Key ciphers, ranging from simple pen-and-paper methods to advanced techniques used in modern computer-based cryptography. It reveals both historic examples and current innovations. You’ll learn how to efficiently encrypt large files with fast stream ciphers, discover alternatives to AES encryption, and avoid strong-looking but weak ciphers. Simple language and fun-to-solve mini-ciphers make learning serious concepts easy and engaging.

What’s inside

    Construct 30 unbreakable ciphers

    Measure the strength of your ciphers and guarantee their security

    Add an undetectable backdoor to a cipher

    Defeat hypothetical ultracomputers of the future

About the reader

For professional engineers, computer scientists, and cryptography hobbyists. No advanced math knowledge is required.

About the author

Frank Rubin has been doing cryptography for over 50 years. He holds an MS in Mathematics, and a PhD in Computer Science.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

2 What is cryptography?

3 Preliminary concepts

4 Cryptographer’s toolbox

5 Substitution ciphers

6 Countermeasures

7 Transposition

8 Jefferson Wheel Cypher

9 Fractionation

10 Variable-length fractionation

11 Block ciphers

12 Principles for secure encryption

13 Stream ciphers

14 One-time pad

15 Matrix methods

16 Three pass protocol

17 Codes

18 Quantum computers

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