Almost all of us in the present time communicate and exchanges data over the internet without giving importance to security. We all leave behind digital footprints across the internet world even when sharing private information. This calls for the requirement for cryptocurrency so private information can be protected and no intruder can get access to it. So, what cryptoanalysis are?
In simple words, cryptoanalysis provides digital codes and keys to help make certain that information is sent from a trustworthy sender and receiver gets the exact information without being interfered with. Here in this post, we will learn all about cryptanalysis, from its working to its practical application.
What you will learn here?
- What is cryptoanalysis?
- What problems are solved by cryptoanalysis?
- Types of cryptoanalysis
What is cryptoanalysis?
Cryptoanalysis is the process of hiding all crucial and sensitive information through codes and keys. This practice takes the help of complex mathematical calculations and multiple rules named algorithms to make the information uneasy to decipher.
Credit: Google
All these algorithms have many purposes including ones such as cryptoanalysis key generation during internet browsing or while storing private information such as credit card information. When people get engaged in transactions over the internet, the cryptography role kicks in automatically.
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Cryptoanalysis includes two processes that are encryption and decryption.
Encryption is the data conversion that is sent by the sender in an incomprehensible format. The encrypted data is composed of codes so that the third person doesn’t have access to it and fails to understand it.
Decryption is the data conversion of the encrypted text to the original one sent by the sender to make it easy to read by the receiver.
When data is decrypted or encrypted, it is vital to know about the algorithms that you should use. For example, SHA, RCA, and MDS are weak ciphers. They all can be used for decrypting and encrypting less sensitive information. The sensitive data such as credit card details, using an algorithm such as AES 256 is suggested.
What problems are solved by cryptoanalysis?
Credit: Google
Internet applications have a few endpoints, clients, networks, dependencies, and servers. To make all of these work, physical systems are needed to make several requests across many networks that are sometimes not safeguarded and open. Commination exists in open and public networks that are easily and mostly targeted by attackers.
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Two kinds of attacks are there orchestrated in the open networks
1- Passive attacks
The attacker listens to the network connection and reads the information as it is sent.
2- Active attacks
The attacker impersonates a server or client and intercepts the message in transit and modifies the information and then redirects it to the receiver or server.
Cryptoanalysis safeguards such kinds of attacks with the help of its 4 pillars of security.
1- Integrity
2- Confidentiality
3- Non-repudiation
4- Authenticity
Cryptoanalysis protocols namely TLS and SSL provide confidentiality and integrity by safeguarding communications against malicious ones. Authentication protection is given by encryption wherein the message is encrypted along with a private key and sent to the receiver.
Kinds of cryptoanalysis
Credit: Google
1- Symmetric key encryption
This kind of encryption uses the same key for decryption and encryption on the sides of the sender and receiver. Symmetric key algorithms like DES and AES are used in payment apps and random numbers and pin generation tools. It is primarily used for data at rest.
2- Asymmetric key encryption
The name itself says that it is the opposite of the previous one. It uses pairs of keys for decryption and encryption. A public key is used for decryption. A real-time case would be when you would get a message from a sender, say your buddy, you would send the public key to him and he will use it to encrypt the message to be directed to you. Thus you can decrypt the original text through the private key you have.
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