Modules Covered
This course on Cryptography provides comprehensive knowledge from foundational concepts to practical applications. Below are the modules covered:
Module 1 — Introduction to Cryptography
- Define cryptography, its purpose, and why it underpins digital security today.
- Trace a brief history: from ancient ciphers to modern encryption methods.
- Explain the main types of cryptography at a high level (symmetric, asymmetric, hashing).
- Highlight real-life use cases — messaging apps, secure websites, and digital payments.
Module 2 — Symmetric Key Cryptography
- Introduce symmetric key cryptography and the concept of a shared secret.
- Overview of common algorithms and cipher types (block vs stream).
- Advantages and disadvantages of using symmetric keys.
- Illustrate everyday scenarios where symmetric encryption is applied.
Module 3 — Asymmetric Key Cryptography
- Explain what asymmetric (public-key) cryptography is and why it’s different.
- Describe conceptually how key pairs work for encryption and decryption.
- Introduce RSA as a foundation for secure digital communication.
- Show its role in email encryption and secure web traffic.
- Define hashing and compare it with encryption (one-way vs reversible).
- Overview of popular hashing algorithms (MD5, SHA-2, SHA-3, bcrypt).
- Show how hashes ensure data integrity and secure password storage.
- Discuss use of hashing in databases and digital forensics.
Module 5 — Digital Signatures & Certificates
- Explain what digital signatures are and how they prove authenticity.
- Walk through the process: signing vs verifying.
- Describe the role of Certificate Authorities and HTTPS in trusted communication.
- Relate digital signatures to real-world applications like software updates.
Module 6 — Real-World Cryptography Use Cases
- Explore secure messaging protocols, online banking, and e-commerce encryption.
- Show how password managers use cryptography to protect data.
- Outline blockchain & cryptocurrency cryptography basics.
- Highlight common failures — weak passwords, poor key management, and how to avoid them.
- Define steganography and how it differs from encryption.
- Explain different types (image, audio, text, network) and how they work.
- Discuss modern contexts like NFTs and cyberattacks using hidden data.
- Introduce detection techniques and why defenders need to know them.