Cryptography For Dummies [Paperback]

Chey Cobb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0764541889 | ISBN-13: 978-0764541889 | Edition: 1

• Cryptography is the most effective way to achieve data security and is essential to e-commerce activities such as online shopping, stock trading, and banking
• This invaluable introduction to the basics of encryption covers everything from the terminology used in the field to specific technologies to the pros and cons of different implementations
• Discusses specific technologies that incorporate cryptography in their design, such as authentication methods, wireless encryption, e-commerce, and smart cards
• Based entirely on real-world issues and situations, the material provides instructions for already available technologies that readers can put to work immediately
• Expert author Chey Cobb is retired from the NRO, where she held a Top Secret security clearance, instructed employees of the CIA and NSA on computer security and helped develop the computer security policies used by all U.S. intelligence agencies

Editorial Reviews

Review

“…a useful guide for anyone bamboozled by encryption…” (PC Utilities, June 2004)

“The reader can dip into it whenever the mood takes them…” (MicroMart, 29^th April 2004)

From the Back Cover

Get expert advice on choosing and using cryptography products

Protect yourself and your business from online eavesdroppers — it’s easier than you think!

If you were hoping for a flame-throwing watch or a flying car, we’re sorry – this isn’t James Bond’s equipment manual. Cryptography is a common-sense way to secure stuff on the Internet, and this friendly guidebook makes it easy to understand. Discover how you can protect information with keys, ciphers, PKIs, certificates, and more.

Praise for Cryptography For Dummies

"Cryptography is absolutely fundamental to security, personal privacy and a trusted global economy. Everyone, and I mean everyone, should understand how to protect themselves and how cryptography is used to protect the world’s most important asset: information. Given her extraordinary background and practical experience in network security, Chey Cobb is uniquely qualified to simplify the mystique of cryptography for the average person."
– Winn Schwartau, President, GetInsightU.Com and author "Information Warfare"and "Pearl Harbor Dot Com"

Discover how to:

• Analyze off-the-shelf encryption products
• Decide what type of security you need
• Create and manage keys
• Issue digital signatures and certificates
• Set up SSL for e-commerce
• Enable wireless encryption

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (January 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764541889
• ISBN-13: 978-0764541889
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #573,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #89 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Algorithms > Cryptography

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good Intro to Cryptography, September 30, 2005

By 

E - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cryptography For Dummies (Paperback)

I've stumbled across cryptography for about the past year, so recently I decided to go ahead and learn some basics (as I think the subject and InfoSec is really interesting). Most cryptography books out there are for the advanced and are mathematically rigorous. While I gladly welcome math, I needed an overview to bring me up to speed, prepping me for more intermediate (and eventually advanced) texts later.

I've never read a Dummies book dealing with computer technology before, because although they're written for absolute novices, the low-level writing style irritates me, usually takes too long to get to the "interesting stuff", and the "yippity-skippity!" attitude will eventually make me go seek a more advanced text. Basically, Dummies books "hold your hand", and if this is what you need, they're great! But if not, they can be rather slow for you (as for me).

However, Cryptography for Dummies is pretty good, aside from a few misses. By this being a Dummies book, the impression of this text being for complete neophytes is false - if you don't have any experience with basic computer science topics (e.g. binary, binary-to-decimal conversions, bits/bytes/words, etc.), the first couple chapters may be a little hard to understand, as the author assumes you at least know that stuff.

Aside from that, the author does a good job explaining the basic topics one needs to understand cryptography and its inner-workings. However, the author's writing style leaves much to be desired at times. At points, I found myself scratching my head, re-reading passages several times, trying to figure out what the author meant. At times when he should explain the nuances of something, he doesn't, leaving you to go, "HUH?" (A good example of this are the early parts where he talks about keys but doesn't explain what a key is or how they interact with other parts of a cryptographic system.)

There are other sections where the author leaves entire descriptions of things out, where you'll have to figure it out for yourself. Perhaps this is purposeful, so he won't get too far into the topic, as this book is basically an overview. Something else I noticed too is the vast amount of errors the book has! I'm not sure if Dummies has an 'Errata' section on its site.

While this book is by no means a complete text (probably not even a 1/3-complete text), overall, it's good for those who want an overview of the subject, and plan on venturing further, as I do.

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to cryptography, October 2, 2004

By 

Ben Rothke "Author of 'Computer Security: 20 ... (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cryptography For Dummies (Paperback)

Cryptography is one of the most intimidating aspects of computer security, conjuring up, as it does, such concepts as hash functions and public-key infrastructures. For the average user who wants to know about cryptography without gaining the proficiency of a cryptographer, Cryptography for Dummies is the perfect introduction.

The book details the core elements of cryptography that the average user needs to understand, leaving the theoretical topics to more long-winded texts. Emphasis is put on simplicity and straightforwardness, with as little gibberish as possible. Screen shots and illustrations are used effectively without being condescending or insulting.

As the book progresses, the chapters plumb more detail. Those wishing just a quick introduction should stop after part one. For the more ambitious, sections on public-key infrastructures, secured sockets layer, authentication systems, and virtual private networks lie ahead.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book made it easier to do my job, June 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Cryptography For Dummies (Paperback)

This book is an excellent introduction to the field. Perfect for someone who is concerned with information security within their organization, a nice starting place for someone considering a career in security, and very useful to the IS staff person who gets stuck with the job when there isn't money to pay for an expert. I do security training for end users and am considering using content from this book and Network Security For Dummies to develop a basic course. It's nice to have some of these concepts explained in plain English. Makes it easier to do my job.