Cryptology. An introduction to the science of encoding, concealing and hiding (Q2754890)

The book is a ``classical'' introduction to the basic cryptographic techniques intended for a reader with no or very little knowledge on the subject. It is the sixth revised edition of [Kryptologie (Braunschweig/Wiesbaden: Friedr. Vieweg \& Sohn) (1987; Zbl 0634.94008)]. The book is divided into six chapters introducing the conventional and public-key cryptography, as well as some other topics of modern cryptography. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe first chapter explains basic terms of cryptography and cryptanalysis on monoalphabetical cryptosystems. The second chapter is devoted to polyaphabetical cryptosystems and their analysis. The analytical techniques are demonstrated on the Vigenère cipher. The third chapter deals with perfect secrecy, one-time-pad, and linear feedback shift registers and their cryptanalysis. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe fourth chapter introduces some methods of modern cryptography, namely integrity, authenticity, and challenge-response and zero-knowledge protocols. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe fifth chapter explains principles of public-key cryptography and illustrates it on the RSA encryption and digital signature algorithm. Advantages and disadvantages of public key cryptosystems are discussed. Here one can also find a description of the ElGamal cryptosystem, the principle of hybrid cryptosystems, and an explanation of the role of certificates in public-key cryptography. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe last, sixth, chapter is devoted to anonymity. It explains the main problems of anonymity in the digital world, and illustrates some solutions on digital cash and the MIX concept.