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AppliedCryptography
MeatballWiki | RecentChanges | Random Page | Indices | CategoriesApplied Cryptography, 2nd Edition by BruceSchneier. (1996)
http://www.counterpane.com/applied.html
This book explains modern cryptographic algorithms and systems. Both public-key and secret-key (conventional) algorithms are discussed at length. Applied Cryptography is probably the best single reference book for a programmer interested in cryptography--many of the systems even come with source code in C.
From the preface at http://www.counterpane.com/ac2preface.html"";:
- There are two kinds of cryptography in this world: cryptography that will stop your kid sister from reading your files, and cryptography that will stop major governments from reading your files. This book is about the latter.
Table of Contents:
Foreword by Whitfield Diffie [One of the inventors of public-key cryptography]
Part I: Cryptographic Protocols Ch. 1: Foundations Ch. 2: Protocol Building Blocks Ch. 3: Basic Protocols Ch. 4: Intermediate Protocols Ch. 5: Advanced Protocols Ch. 6: Esoteric Protocols
Part II: Cryptographic Techniques Ch. 7: Key Length Ch. 8: Key Management Ch. 9: Algorithm Types and Modes Ch. 10: Using Algorithms
Part III: Cryptographic Algorithms Ch. 11: Mathematical Background Ch. 12: Data Encryption Standard Ch. 13: Other Block Algorithms Ch. 14: Still Other Block Algorithms Ch. 15: Combining Block Algorithms Ch. 16: Pseudo-Random-Sequence Generators and Stream Ciphers Ch. 17: Other Stream Ciphers and Real Random-Sequence Generators Ch. 18: One-Way Hash Functions Ch. 19: Public-Key Algorithms Ch. 20: Public-Key Digital Signature Algorithms Ch. 21: Identification Schemes Ch. 22: Key-Exchange Algorithms Ch. 23: Special Algorithms for Protocols
Part IV: The Real World Ch. 24: Example Implementations Ch. 25: Politics
Afterward by Matt Blaze [One of the best modern cryptosystem implementors.]
If you actually want to understand modern cryptography, rather than treating it as a magical black box, this book is an excellent place to start. It is rather light on mathematics and theory, but it explains in practical terms what is possible and not-yet-possible. --CliffordAdams
Readers may also be interested in the more recent book SecretsAndLies, in which Schneier explores the limits of cryptography in real-world systems.
[CategoryBook] [CategoryCryptography]