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  • CS406: Information Security (2018)
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  • Unit 1: Computer Security Concepts
  • Unit 2: Basic Cryptographic Concepts
  • Unit 3: Public-Key Encryption
  • Unit 4: Access Control Mechanisms
  • Unit 5: Security Solutions
  • Unit 6: Firewalls, Intrusion Detection, and Intrusion Prevention
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CS406: Information Security (2018)

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Back to course 'CS406: Information Security (2018)'
  • Unit 2: Basic Cryptographic Concepts

    Encryption and decryption of data form the basis of information security. Cryptography is the science of encrypting data. In this unit, we will explore basic cryptography concepts and the purpose of cryptography. Also, we will look into the details of symmetric key encryption techniques. In particular, we will discuss the symmetric key algorithms called Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple DES, and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). DES is a block-cipher employing a 56-bit key that operates on 64-bit blocks. Triple-DES is a variant of DES that employs up to three 56-bit keys and makes three encryption/decryption passes over the block. In 1997, NIST initiated a very public, four-and-a-half-year process to develop a new secure cryptosystem for U.S. government applications. The result, the Advanced Encryption Standard, became the official successor to DES in December 2001.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 7 hours.

    • Unit 2 Learning Outcomes Page
    • 2.1: Basic Cryptography Concepts: Symmetric Encryption Algorithms

      • Steve Weis' "Theory and Practice of Cryptography" Page
        Watch this video about the basics of information security and cryptographic concepts related to symmetric encryption algorithms like DES, Triple DES, and AES.
    • 2.2: Purpose of Cryptography

      • Gary C. Kessler's "An Overview of Cryptography: The Purpose of Cryptography" URL

        Read section 2 about basic cryptographic concepts.

    • 2.3: Data Encryption Standard (DES)

      • Gary C. Kessler's "An Overview of Cryptography: Some of the Finer Details of DES, Breaking DES, and DES Variants" URL

        Read section 5.4 about DES symmetric key cryptography algorithm.

    • 2.4: Triple DES

      • Tropical Software: "Triple DES Encryption" URL

        Read this page about how Triple DES makes use of DES to improve on encryption-based security.

    • 2.5: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

      • Gary C. Kessler's "An Overview of Cryptography: The Advanced Encryption Standard and Rijndael" URL

        Read section 5.9 about the advanced encryption standard (AES) algorithm.

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