Understanding and employing cryptography has become central for securing virtually any digital application, whether user app, cloud service, or even medical implant. Heavily revised and updated, the long-awaited second edition of Understanding Cryptography follows the unique approach of making modern cryptography accessible to a broad audience, requiring only a minimum of prior knowledge. After introducing basic cryptography concepts, this seminal textbook covers nearly all symmetric, asymmetric, and post-quantum cryptographic algorithms currently in use in applications—ranging from cloud computing and smartphones all the way to industrial systems, blockchains, and cryptocurrencies.

Topics and features include:

• A foreword by cryptography pioneer and Turing Award winner, Ron Rivest
• Development of a comprehensive understanding of modern applied cryptography
• A thorough introduction to post-quantum cryptography consisting of the three standardized cipher families
• Comprehensive problem sets, extensive examples, and further-reading discussions for every chapter
• A unique pedagogical approach that communicates the essentials about foundations and practical use while keeping mathematics to a minimum
• Up-to-date security parameters for all cryptographic algorithms
• Chapter reviews and discussions on topics such as historical and societal context

This must-have book is indispensable as a textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses, as well as for self-study by designers and engineers. The authors have more than 20 years of experience teaching cryptography at various universities in the US and Europe. In addition to being renowned scientists, they have extensive experience applying cryptography in industry, from which they have drawn important lessons for their teaching.