Web Security
Simple Encryption In cryptography, encryption is the process of encoding messages or information in such a way that only authorized parties can read it
Substitution Cipher Example Ciphertext: QEB NRFZH YOLTK CLU GRJMP LSBO QEB IXWV ALD Plaintext: the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Classes of Cryptographic Algorithms Symmetric Algorithms – Uses the same cryptographic key for both encryption and decryption (i.e., shared secret) Asymmetric Algorithms – Requires two separate keys, one is secret (private) and one is public; the keys are mathematically linked
The key and algorithm must be shared between Bob and Alice Symmetric Encryption Man In The Middle Bob Alice Algorithm Cipher Text Plain Text Plain Text Cipher Text Key The key and algorithm must be shared between Bob and Alice
Asymmetric Encryption Also known and public-key cryptography Each person has a pair of keys (public and private) Any person can encrypt a message for a specific person Based on cryptographic algorithms that use mathematical problems that currently have no efficient solution Public-key algorithms are the fundamental security ingredients for almost all Internet security Underpins Internet standards such as Transport Layer Security (TLS), S/MIME and PGP Can also be used for digital signatures, in which a message is signed with the sender’s private key and can be verified by anyone who has access to the sender’s public key
Key Generation
Certificate Authorities An entity that issues digital certificates A digital certificate certifies the ownership of a public key by the named subject of the certificate A client uses a CA certificate to verify the CA signature on a server certificate
What’s Needed For Secure Communication Between Client and Web Server? 1) Client needs to prove the web server is who it says it is 2) Client needs to share information with web server in a secure fashion #1 Is solved with certificates #2 is solved with asymmetric and symmetric encryption of messages
How Communication Works
YouTube Explanation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJJmoDZ3il8