Cryptography Overview
Cryptography
In this age of information technology, information exchange has never been more effortless. Valuable information assets must be secured. Encryption systems are in widespread commercial use. Especially important is the transfer of information assets in intelligence, defence, treasury, health, commerce and banking.
Greater confidence in encryption systems will provide the foundation for greater uptake of e-commerce. Over the decades, cryptography has developed techniques to ensure the confidentiality of information of data transfer and storage.
Classical Cryptography
Classical cryptographic systems rely on complex mathematical operations or algorithms to ensure data confidentiality. Only a receiver who possesses a valid key is able to decrypt the transmission into its original form (also known as plaintext).
Classical cryptographic systems are difficult to break with existing technology but their future security cannot be guaranteed. Threats are arising from:
- advances in performance of conventional computers.
- clever mathematicians who could break the encryption.
- the development of a new class of computers known as quantum computers.