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An Introduction to Cryptography

Kevin Matthews, James Shuttleworth, Dominique D, Serena Turton, Derrick Newton, Fadzayi Guri, Antal Goldschmidt, Natasha Macmanard, Martyn Clayden, Ana Karnesova, Parminder Kaur, Matt Compton, and Melissa B.

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more The Institute of Coding supported the development of this course in response to consultation with industry representatives from the healthcare, manufacturing and automotive sectors. This course is for people who want to understand more about the way cryptography keeps our communications safe, either out of curiosity or to prepare for advanced study of the topic. Please note that the individuals detailed in the ‘Who will you learn with?’ section below, are current staff members and may be subject to change. You can use the hashtag #cryptography to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

The mathematical concepts underpinning cryptography
Classical cryptography and historical ciphers
The basics of cryptanalysis
Random number generation
Hashing

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Reviews summary

Foundational cryptography: clear concepts, historical context

According to learners, 'An Introduction to Cryptography' is a largely positive experience, particularly praised for its ability to demystify complex concepts and provide a strong foundational understanding. Students frequently highlight the instructor's clear explanations, making the mathematical concepts accessible even to those with limited prior knowledge. The course's well-structured modules and integration of fascinating historical context are also frequently mentioned as strengths. While excellent for building a theoretical base and preparing for advanced study, some students note it is highly theoretical, with a desire for more practical examples or coding exercises.

Engaging insights into classical ciphers.

"I particularly enjoyed how they integrated the historical context of ciphers with the underlying mathematical principles."

"The historical examples were fascinating, and the explanations of hashing and random number generation were exceptionally clear."

"I liked the historical progression of cryptography."

Builds essential conceptual understanding.

"It laid a very strong foundation for understanding modern encryption techniques. Highly recommend for anyone curious about the subject or preparing for further study."

"It does exactly what an 'introduction' should do; it opens the door to a fascinating field."

"It provided a strong understanding of fundamental concepts, which is exactly what I needed to prepare for a more advanced university course."

"It's an excellent stepping stone for anyone considering further study in cybersecurity or information theory."

Demystifies complex cryptographic concepts.

"Absolutely fantastic introduction! The instructor managed to demystify complex cryptographic concepts without oversimplifying them."

"As someone with a limited math background, I was initially intimidated, but the way the instructor broke down the concepts was incredibly helpful."

"Perfect for a curious mind! I found the explanations compelling and the content fascinating. It truly makes complex ideas accessible without dumbing them down."

Some found the delivery somewhat dry.

"I found this course a bit too theoretical and at times, dry."

"The course is informative, but the presentation can be a bit dry at times. Some lectures felt like reading a textbook aloud."

Assumes some prior math knowledge.

"Some mathematical parts required re-watching lectures."

"Certain mathematical derivations were a bit rushed for a beginner, and I had to look up external resources."

"I felt like it assumed a certain level of prior math knowledge which wasn't explicitly stated."

Lacks practical application or coding exercises.

"A bit more practical application or small coding examples would have made it perfect, but it's theory-focused as advertised."

"It's more theoretical than practical, which might not suit everyone looking for hands-on skills."

"I wanted to learn about how to actually use encryption in real-world scenarios, but this was all about history and abstract math."

"If you're looking for practical applications, you'll need to seek them elsewhere, but for pure understanding, this is great."

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Handbook of Applied Cryptography

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A comprehensive and foundational reference work in applied cryptography. While published in 1996, it remains a vital resource for researchers and practitioners due to its depth and breadth of coverage on cryptographic techniques and mathematical foundations. It is often used as a graduate-level textbook.

Handbook of Applied Cryptography (Discrete...

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Handbook of Applied Cryptography (Discrete...

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Introduction to Modern Cryptography

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This textbook provides a rigorous and up-to-date introduction to modern cryptography. It is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students.

Introduction to Modern Cryptography: Third Edition...

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Introduction to Modern Cryptography (Chapman &...

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Introduction to Modern Cryptography: Principles and...

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Introduction to Modern Cryptography (Chapman &...

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Cryptography Engineering

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Focuses on the practical aspects of designing and implementing secure cryptographic systems. It's an excellent resource for software engineers and system architects, bridging the gap between theoretical cryptography and real-world deployment. It highlights common pitfalls and provides guidance on building secure systems.

An Introduction to Cryptography

Topics Covered

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Reviews summary

Foundational cryptography: clear concepts, historical context

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