Cryptology 101 

Cryptology is a coin with two heads: Cryptography and Cryptanalysis. Cryptography is the art and science of multi-party confidential communication through an insecure channel. The other side of the coin, the domain of cryptanalysis, is the art and science of deciphering those communications.

In cryptography, mechanisms based on mathematical concepts are designed to ensure the three fundamental desiderata of information systems security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA). Cryptanalysis studies the mechanisms of cryptography in order to break them. 

This introductory page will give an overview:

• A brief history

• Basic components

• Algorithm types

• Public key infrastructure

• Quantum cryptology

• Secure protocols

• Attack types