Pki

Cryptography fundamentals for developers Data protection matters for apps, services, and users. Understanding a few fundamentals helps you choose safe patterns and avoid common mistakes. This guide uses plain language and practical tips you can apply today. Symmetric vs. asymmetric encryption Symmetric encryption uses one secret key to both encrypt and decrypt data. It is fast and suitable for large data. In practice you use a strong algorithm like AES with a modern mode such as GCM to get both confidentiality and integrity. Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. It helps with key distribution and digital signatures, but it is slower. A typical setup combines both: encrypt data with a symmetric key, then protect that key with an asymmetric public key. ...

Modern Encryption and Key Management Encryption protects data in transit and at rest, but its strength relies on how keys are created, stored, and used. This article shares practical ideas that teams of all sizes can apply to improve security without slowing work. Encryption uses algorithms to make data unreadable without a key. There are two main kinds: symmetric keys for fast data access, and asymmetric keys for secure exchanges. In practice, many systems combine both: data is encrypted with a symmetric key, then that key is secured with an asymmetric system or a public key infrastructure (PKI). ...

Cryptography Basics for Developers Cryptography helps protect information by transforming it. It can keep secrets safe, prove who sent a message, and ensure it wasn’t tampered with. As a developer, you should rely on proven libraries rather than writing crypto code yourself. Small mistakes can undermine security and give attackers an easy path in. What cryptography does Cryptography has three main jobs: confidentiality (keeping data secret), integrity (detecting tampering), and authenticity (proving who sent something). ...

Internet Security: From TLS to Zero Trust TLS protects data in transit by encrypting traffic and proving server identity with certificates. It is the backbone of secure web, email, and APIs. But TLS alone is not a full security model. It assumes networks can be trusted or that access is already controlled. In practice, attackers can steal credentials, misconfigure servers, or issue fraudulent certificates. A strong certificate helps, but it does not decide who should access a given app. ...

Cryptography Essentials for Practitioners Cryptography helps protect data in motion and at rest. For practitioners, the goal is to apply solid, proven choices consistently rather than chase every new gadget. Start with three goals: confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. These map to encryption, hashes, and signatures, but real systems mix them across layers. Core ideas you should know include the following. Use symmetric encryption for fast confidentiality, such as AES-256 in GCM mode, with a unique nonce for each message. For key exchange and identity, rely on asymmetric schemes like ECC or RSA and prefer modern signatures such as EdDSA or ECDSA. Hash functions like SHA-256 or SHA-3 support integrity, and with a keyed MAC you gain strong authenticity. Key derivation and randomness matter: HKDF helps derive keys safely, and cryptographically strong random numbers are essential for nonces, salts, and keys. Always prefer authenticated encryption, which provides both secrecy and integrity in one step. ...