Cryptography is a field of information security that is often misunderstood. Although the fundamental principles of algorithms generally stay the same, as infections and attacks evolve so too must these algorithms to maintain the security of confidential information. Cryptography incorporates three key principles: encryption, integrity, and authentication. Encryption To encrypt a file data is converted into an unreadable form, protecting its privacy during storage, transfer and reception. Encrypted data is decrypted via a process known as ‘decryption’. In essence, encryption and decryption require a special key, so that while data appears scrambled, both the sender and the desired recipient can still read and understand it. Integrity Cryptography assures message integrity, meaning that messages are accurately communicated and not altered or intercepted en route from the sender to the recipient. This is often achieved by hashing data, or cryptographically mapping out […]