Cryptography

Cryptography is an interdisciplinary subject, drawing from several fields. Older forms of cryptography were chiefly concerned with patterns in language. More recently, the emphasis has shifted, and cryptography makes extensive use of mathematics, particularly discrete mathematics, including topics from number theory, information theory, computational complexity, statistics and combinatorics. Cryptography is also considered a branch of engineering, but it is considered to be an unusual one as it deals with active, intelligent and malevolent opposition (see cryptographic engineering and security engineering). Cryptography is a tool used within computer and network security.

Related Topics:
Language - Mathematics - Discrete mathematics - Number theory - Information theory - Computational complexity - Statistics - Combinatorics - Engineering - Cryptographic engineering - Security engineering - Computer - Network security

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An associated field is steganography — the study of hiding the very existence of a message, and not necessarily the contents of the message itself (for example, microdots, or invisible ink).

Related Topics:
Steganography - Message - Microdot - Invisible ink

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~