Real-World Cryptography

1 Introduction

This chapter covers

• What cryptography is about
• Theoretical versus real-world cryptography
• What you’ll learn throughout this adventure

Greetings, traveler; sit tight. You’re about to enter a world of wonder and mystery—the world of cryptography. Cryptography is the ancient discipline of securing situations that are troubled with malicious characters. This book includes the spells that we need to defend ourselves against the malice. Many have attempted to learn this craft, but few have survived the challenges that stand in the way of mastery. Exciting adventures await, indeed!

In this book, we’ll uncover how cryptographic algorithms can secure our letters, identify our allies, and protect treasures from our enemies. Sailing through ...