For years, data security in computing has been a constant concern, so experts are looking for ways to ensure that no third party can access data they are not authorized to access. And to achieve this, they have applied knowledge from various sectors..
Cryptography is one of the oldest techniques in the world, and yet it has found a second life in computing, where its principles are used to protect data of all kinds.
In this article we will teach you everything you need to know about it; from its most essential elements, to its classification and main objectivesBy the end, you'll be able to consider yourself an expert on a topic that will be very useful to know if you're interested in information security and similar issues.
What is cryptography and what are these technologies used for?
Cryptography consists of different techniques for encoding information with the intention of protecting it from third parties.This is nothing new at all; throughout history, humans have used these types of systems to protect information considered confidential, private, or important. Even Julius Caesar of Rome created one of the first cryptographic systems on record.
With the advent of computer science, cryptography was given a second life; although it was never an extinct sector, it was somewhat forgotten. By the 80s, cryptography was fully linked to computer science, and since then the evolution of both has gone hand in hand.Every time a new storage system is developed, a new cryptographic technology is born.
Currently, even coded cryptographic networks have been developed that guarantee not only the encoding of transactions, but even make them impossible to modify, like the tecnología blockchain e.g.These kinds of advances open up a whole world of possibilities for the development of this sector, which could become even more commonplace than it is now.
What is a cryptographic key in computer science?
One of the most essential elements in computing is cryptographic keys. These are simply security codes used to activate an algorithm that grants access to specific information. We interact with them. constantly, whether it's to log into our social networks or to unlock our mobile phones or laptops.
A cryptographic key is a credential that blocks access to information, but it does not encode the content of the message itself. There are two types of cryptographic keys, and many encryption methods are based on them; these are:
- private keyThe private key is a password or code known only to the person protecting the information or establishing the encryption method.
- Public keyThis is an address or code that may be in the public domain but does not give any indication of the type of information it contains.
In addition to this, we must consider certain aspects that allow us to create secure keys. The first of these is its length, which defines the number of characters it contains.Secondly, its randomness, which refers to its unusual nature. And finally, its duration, which refers to the length of time a key remains active.
What are the most important goals of cryptography?
Cryptography has three very important objectives. All of them are related to the security and integrity of the encoded information and You will learn about them all below:
- Confidentiality: The main objective is to ensure that the encoded information remains confidential and accessible only to the user. This is a fundamental human need for protecting our most valuable secrets, both personally and professionally.
- Data integrityThe data we protect must not only be hidden but also remain intact. Cryptography must ensure that applying its various techniques will not alter the content of the encoded message.
- Linking: With a cryptographic key, it is also possible to link the information to a single person or entity, who would have the main rights to access it; it also ensures that a transaction was carried out by a specific entity, which would be the only one with the necessary data to carry it out.
- Authentication: Finally, authenticate that the person accessing the data is the one with the rights to it. By possessing the key to something, you are being identified as one of those authorized to access the information it protects.
What types of cryptographic keys exist and what are some examples of them?
Throughout history, different types of encryption techniques have been developed, but all of them can be categorized into three different types of cryptography.
These are:
- Symmetric cryptographyThis refers to a series of techniques that use symmetric cryptographic keys, meaning that both keys are the same. This implies that both the sender and receiver of the information must know the key, making it an effective way to authenticate the recipient's identity. This was one of the first forms of cryptography used.
- Asymmetric cryptographyThis is one of the most widely used systems for virtually all digital platforms. It involves a public key, which is shared and allows others to send information, but requires a public key to be used for confirmation. This is the model used, for example, for BTC wallets, which provide a public address you can give to receive your cryptocurrencies, but only you know the private key that grants access to the wallet and its resources.
- Hybrid cryptographyThese are techniques that try to combine the best of both worlds and establish both symmetric keys, or similar elements, as well as asymmetric keys, so that the user has better security.
Symmetric cryptography vs. asymmetric cryptography: What are the differences and which is more secure?
Symmetric and asymmetric cryptography are similar in their operation, but they have many conceptual and technical differences that make them follow different paradigms to obtain the same result.
The main difference between the two lies in the public key, since this is exclusive to asymmetric systems and does not exist in symmetric systems. This, in turn, considerably limits symmetric encryption, as it can only be used to verify that the message recipient is the intended recipient..
In the case of asymmetric systems, things change, since with a public key it is much easier to both send the information and ensure that it reaches the intended recipient. because public keys are unique and cannot be owned by two people within the same system.
This concept also gave rise to the idea of a digital signature, which would be a way to identify ourselves on the internet to notify that a message has been created or shared by us. something similar to what our users would be like in an online video game.
However, despite these arguments, it cannot be said that one is more secure than the other. The reality is that in cryptography, the type of system does not guarantee security; this depends on the strength of the private keys. A state-of-the-art system is useless if the keys are easy to crack.
What we can say with certainty is that asymmetric systems are much more versatile and flexible, allowing us to create more complex encryptions. For this reason, they are currently the most widely used systems to guarantee information security..
Steganography and cryptography: Is it the key to improving encryption security?
Steganography refers to a series of methods used to encode messages within other messages, in such a way that information can be transmitted in a public document, with the certainty that not everyone who reads it will be able to decipher the message contained within it.
One of the main differences with cryptography is the type of message it transmits. Cryptography uses secret keys, which are not intended to be shared with anyone other than the owner of the data. Steganography, for its part, is a cover language, which everyone They can read it, but not everyone has the necessary information to understand or decipher the true message contained within it..
Steganography has been a popular method for encoding messages for centuries. It became especially popular during the Cold War, as Spies and undercover agents used it to transcribe the information they were collecting, and in case they were captured, his captors couldn't understand his notes.
In computer science, a more complex use for steganography had been sought without much success, but in recent years a movement has emerged that believes it can be used to enhance cryptographic systems.
Blockchain: What type of cryptographic technology dominates the world of cryptocurrencies today?
Blockchain is one of the greatest cryptographic successes of our time. It's a system in which information is encrypted in cryptographic blocks that, once verified, cannot be modified. The data stored in a blockchain is recorded, but only for reference, and no personal data of any user is shared.
This technology has fostered the creation of 100% transparent and decentralized systems, where users have complete control over itTo do this, it uses an asymmetric system in which each user within the network is given both a public and a private key.
Each block has a public key that identifies it within the chain, similar to how an IP address identifies a computer within a network. Information can be sent freely to this key, but to access it, a private key will be required, which only the indicated user has access to..
And cryptocurrencies?
Cryptocurrencies are a consequence of blockchain.People realized that this was a completely new and decentralized environment in which they could create platforms and projects that were not dependent on or under the jurisdiction of any country in the world.
Then, A user on the Deep Web, identified as Satoshi Nakamoto, started the Bitcoin project, which was a decentralized currency.The first of its kind in the world. Initially, its value was zero, but people began to be interested in the possibility of saving money away from taxes and mortgages, so they believed in the project.
Cryptocurrencies are simply convertible currencies that a person receives for investing in a blockchain project, as in the case of BTC. Following its creation, other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Litecoin emerged, and currently the cryptocurrency market is one of the largest in the world in terms of money moved.This demonstrates the amount of money invested in blockchain projects.
