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Cryptography

Cryptography is the science of securing information by transforming it into an unreadable format, accessible only to those who possess a key to decode it. The word comes from the Greek “kryptos,” meaning hidden, and “graphien,” meaning to write. In other words, cryptography means “hidden writing.”

Cryptography has been around for thousands of years, but as the world becomes more and more digitized, the role this science plays in ensuring the privacy, integrity, and secure exchange of data is more vital than ever.

Key cryptography terms

You can learn more about cryptography in our FAQs, but here are a few key terms to know:

  • Cryptographic algorithms: The various algorithms used to encrypt and decrypt data to ensure secure communication.
  • Public key cryptography: The practice of asymmetric encryption, where public keys and private keys are used for secure data exchange.
  • Public key encryption algorithms: Common algorithms used to safeguard information, like RSA and elliptic curve cryptography.
  • RSA cryptography: A widely used encryption method that secures data using the mathematical properties of prime numbers.
  • Elliptic curve cryptography (ECC): An encryption method that uses shorter keys, making it efficient for mobile devices.
  • Post-quantum cryptography (PQC): An emerging—and extremely important—field of cryptography designed to withstand the impending threats posed by quantum computing.

Why is cryptography important?

Cryptography helps build digital trust by providing a suite of tools that ensure data security and user privacy. Here’s a quick look at what cryptography offers:

  • Confidentiality: By using encryption to scramble data so it can only be read by someone with the right decryption key, cryptography ensures information is only accessible to the people authorized to view it.
  • Integrity: Techniques like digital signatures and hash functions verify that data hasn’t been altered during transmission.
  • Authentication: Public key infrastructure (PKI) and certificates allow people communicating digitally to verify each other’s identities, ensuring they’re interacting with the intended parties.
  • Non-repudiation: Digital signatures provide proof of a message’s origin and integrity, holding senders accountable for their actions so they can’t deny sending a message.

Learn more

Read our FAQs to learn more about cryptography or get strategies to prepare for quantum computing in our PQC Playground.

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