Python Programming in Context, 4th Edition

8.2 Introduction

One of the most secure algorithms for encrypting secret messages today is called RSA, named after its authors—Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman. Web browsers often use RSA to make secure connections to sites like banks and online stores. Obviously, any encryption technique that is widely used for such sensitive data will be the target of many attacks. If someone breaks RSA—and a few people out there say they have already broken it—a lot of bank account numbers and passwords would be vulnerable to theft.

In this chapter, we focus on the field of code breaking, known as cryptanalysis. Of course, the study of breaking codes is as old as the field of making codes. In fact, some of the first computer scientists were deeply ...