An Introduction to Cryptography from Coursera

Cryptography is an essential part of secure but accessible communication that's critical for our everyday life and organisations use it to protect their privacy and keep their conversations and data confidential. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fascinating world of cryptography, covering both historical cyphers and modern-day cryptographic techniques.

In this course, you will explore the foundations of encryption, decryption, and cryptographic protocols. Through a combination of theoretical concepts, practical examples, and hands-on exercises, you will gain a solid understanding of the principles and applications of cryptography.

Join this fascinating course to explore the world of cryptography and learn how secrets have been kept in the past and the modern world.

This course is one of many, offered by Click Start, a UK training programme designed to help young people develop digital skills. Click Start offers a limited number of scholarships giving free access to young people in the UK. Check the FAQs to see more detail and follow the link to check if you are eligible for free access today.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to Week 1

Welcome to the first week of the course! We will start the week with an exploration of what cryptography is and what it is used for and then move on to look at some cryptographic techniques, via some ancient cryptography. Although these ancient cryptographic techniques are not very useful in modern life, they are good at demonstrating some of the concepts that are still used in modern day cryptography. Week 1 lays the foundation for Week 2, when we will turn our attention to modern cryptography.

Week 2: Modern cryptography

Welcome to Week 2. In this week you will bring your knowledge about cryptography up to date in the modern day. This is where we start to look at more complex methods for more complex contemporary requirements. To start off, you will be introduced to a concept called 'public key cryptography' which is extensively used on the internet. You will then learn about hash functions and how some cryptographic techniques can be used to produce a digital signature.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a comprehensive introduction to the fascinating world of cryptography

Covers both historical ciphers and modern-day cryptographic techniques

Explores the foundations of encryption, decryption, and cryptographic protocols

Uses a combination of theoretical concepts, practical examples, and hands-on exercises

Introduces students to public key cryptography, hash functions, and digital signatures

Lays the foundation for understanding modern cryptography

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in An Introduction to Cryptography with these activities:

Compile Your Course Materials

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Help yourself become better prepared for this course by compiling your current materials.

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Gather your syllabus, lecture notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams
Physically organize these in a way that's logical and accessible
Digitize or duplicate important materials to carry with you
Review these materials weekly to stay on top of your studies

Review Cryptographic Concepts

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Refamiliarize yourself with prior learning in cryptography to strengthen the foundation for this course.

Browse courses on Cryptography

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Review prior notes on different cryptographic algorithms such as AES, RSA, and ECC
Solve practice problems involving encryption and decryption
Research different applications of cryptography in real-world scenarios

Explore Additional Cryptographic Techniques

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Expand your knowledge of cryptography by exploring specialized techniques not covered in class.

Browse courses on Digital Signature

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Find online tutorials or courses on topics like digital signatures, hashing functions, or blockchains
Follow the tutorials, taking notes and completing any exercises
Implement the techniques you've learned in small personal projects

Three other activities

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Solve Cryptographic Puzzles and Problems

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Sharpen your problem-solving skills and reinforce concepts by engaging in cryptographic challenges.

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Find websites or platforms that offer cryptographic puzzles and problems
Attempt to solve these puzzles, seeking help from online resources or forums if needed
Document your solutions and the techniques you used

Develop a Cryptographic Tutorial

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Solidify your understanding by creating your own educational content on a cryptographic topic.

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Choose a specific cryptographic concept or technique that you want to teach
Research the topic thoroughly to ensure your understanding is accurate
Create a tutorial in written, audio, or video format, explaining the concept clearly and concisely
Share your tutorial with others, either online or in person

Contribute to Open-Source Cryptographic Projects

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the wider cryptographic community.

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Find open-source cryptographic projects on platforms like GitHub
Review the project's documentation and codebase to understand its purpose and functionality
Identify ways you can contribute, such as fixing bugs, adding new features, or improving documentation
Submit your contributions and engage with the project's maintainers

Career center

Learners who complete An Introduction to Cryptography will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cryptographic Software Engineer

A Cryptographic Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains cryptographic software systems and applications. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it an essential resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cryptographic Software Engineer

Cryptographic Analyst

A Cryptographic Analyst analyzes and evaluates cryptographic algorithms and systems to ensure their security and effectiveness. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the field of cryptography, making it an ideal resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a strong foundation in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cryptographic Analyst

Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst plans and implements security measures to protect an organization's information systems and data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Network Security Engineer

A Network Security Engineer designs, implements, and maintains network security systems and applications. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it an essential resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Security Consultant

A Security Consultant provides expert advice and guidance to organizations on how to protect their information systems and data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the field of cryptography, making it an ideal resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a strong foundation in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Consultant

Software Developer

A Software Developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist uses data to build models that can predict future outcomes. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Forensic Analyst

A Forensic Analyst investigates computer systems and data to identify and preserve evidence of criminal activity. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Analyst

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is responsible for developing and implementing an organization's information security strategy. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Blockchain Developer

A Blockchain Developer designs, develops, and maintains blockchain applications. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Developer

Ethical Hacker

An Ethical Hacker uses their knowledge of computer systems and networks to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in order to improve security. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ethical Hacker

Security Researcher

A Security Researcher identifies and exploits vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks in order to improve security. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Researcher

Cybersecurity Engineer

A Cybersecurity Engineer designs and implements cybersecurity solutions for organizations. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Engineer

Cryptography Engineer

A Cryptography Engineer designs and implements cryptographic systems and applications. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cryptography Engineer

Security Architect

A Security Architect designs and implements security solutions for organizations. This course provides a solid foundation in the principles of cryptography, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to enter this field. The course covers both historical and modern cryptographic techniques, giving learners a comprehensive understanding of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect