Cryptosystem

A cryptosystem (or cryptographic system) is the package of all procedures, protocols, cryptographic algorithms and instructions used for encoding and decoding messages using cryptography. It will generally contain an integrated assembly of cryptographic primitives (e.g., encryption algorithms, hash algorithms, etc), protocols for their use, operational procedures, and auxiliary elements (documentation, user training materials, and so on) which together make possible effective security as intended by the designer(s). It is cryptosystems that users interact with, it is cryptosystems which provide whatever security is desired, and it is (usually) cryptosystems which fail in practice. An understanding of some of the system level issues in the use of cryptography will be helpful to all who propose to use it, or who will have it deployed by default on their behalf.

Related Topics:
Cryptography - Encryption algorithm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~