Practical Cryptography

Two of the world’s top experts in cryptography teach you how to secure your digital future

In today’s world, security is a top concern for businesses worldwide. Without a secure computer system, you don’t make money, you don’t expand, and–bottom line–you don’t survive. Cryptography holds great promise as the technology to provide security in cyberspace. Amazingly enough, no literature exists about how to implement cryptography and how to incorporate it into real-world systems. With Practical Cryptography, an author team of international renown provides you with the first hands-on cryptographic product implementation guide, bridging the gap between cryptographic theory and real-world cryptographic applications.

This follow-up guide to the bestselling Applied Cryptography dives in and explains the how-to of cryptography. You’ll find discussions on:

• Practical rules for choosing and using cryptographic primitives, from block ciphers to digital signatures
• Implementing cryptographic algorithms and systems in a secure way on today’s computers
• A consistent design philosophy to ensure that every part of the system achieves the required security level
• Why security affects every part of the system, and why it has to be a primary goal of the project
• How simple interfaces for cryptographic primitives reduce system complexity and increase system security

Definition of Topic: Security is the # 1 concern for business worldwide. The gold standard for attaining security is cryptography because it provides THE most reliable tools for storing or transmitting digital information.

Bruce Schneier (Minneapolis, MN) is Founder and Chief Technical Officer at Counterpane Internet Security, a managed-security monitoring company. He is also the author of Secrets and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked World (0-471-25311-1).

Die Kryptographie ist die Schlüsseltechnologie zur Sicherung gespeicherter und übertragener digitaler Information. Dieses Buch beschreibt die Kryptographie im Unterschied zu fast allen derzeit erhältlichen Werken auf diesem Gebiet nicht theoretisch, sondern erläutert praktische Aspekte der Implementation.
- eine konsequent praxisorientierte Anleitung für Systems Engineers und Techniker, kryptographische Algorithmen in Produkte einzubauen
- schlägt eine Brücke zwischen der verfügbaren theoretisch angelegten Literatur und der Praxis
- ideale Verbindung zu "Applied Cryptography" vom gleichen Autor; dort werden die Grundlagen der Kryptographie beschrieben
- die Autoren gehören zu den weltbesten Fachleuten ihres Gebiets

Includes bibliographical references (p. 387-395) and index.

NIELS FERGUSON is a cryptographic engineer and consultant. He has extensive experience in the design and implementation of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, and large-scale security infrastructures. Previously, Ferguson was a cryptographer for DigiCash and CWI, and he worked closely with Bruce Schneier at Counterpane Internet Security. He has published numerous scientific papers.

BRUCE SCHNEIER is founder and chief technical officer at Counterpane Internet Security, a managed-security monitoring company. A world-renowned scientist, security expert, and lecturer, he is the author of Secrets and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked World and Applied Cryptography (both from Wiley).

Preface.

1. Our Design Philosophy.

2. The Context of Cryptography.

3. Introduction to Cryptography.

I  Message Security.

4. Block Ciphers.

5. Block Cipher Modes.

6. Hash Functions.

7. Message Authentication Codes.

8. The Secure Channel.

9. Implementation. Issues (I).

II  Key Negotiation.

10. Generating Randomness.

11. Primes.

12. Diffie-Hellman.

13. RSA.

14. Introduction to Cryptographic Protocols.

15. Negotiation Protocol.

16. Implementation Issues.

III  Key Management.

17. The Clock.

18. Key Servers.

19. The Dream of PKI.

20. PKI Reality.

21. PKI Practicalities.

22. Storing Secrets.

IV  Miscellaneous.

23. Standards.

24. Patents.

25. Involving Experts.

Acknowledgments.

Bibliography.

Index.