Many people find it arduous to differentiate between cryptography and cyber security because both are designed to deal with cybercrime. That’s why it becomes crucial to understand the difference between both, mainly in terms of technology.
Both are connected but different. Many experts consider cryptography a part of cybersecurity because cryptography encrypts and decrypts the data, leading to keeping our data safe.
Cybersecurity use many other techniques, including encryption, to protect our data, so you can say that cryptography is a part of cyber security.
Cybersecurity refers to the implementation of techniques and procedures which helps to protect the data from unauthorized sources.
In contrast, cryptography refers to the encryption and decryption of coded language so that only the sender and receiver can decipher that.
With this encryption, data can be protected from unauthorized access. When it comes to cyber security, there are two main categories that we should focus on: threats coming from external sources and internal threats.
The term cryptography is derived from two words: crypt and graphy, which means hidden and writing, respectively. You can consider it a secret language that protects the data.
The sender and receiver are the only parties who can understand the coded information. It is used for extra security to ensure no third party can access the information.
Cryptography includes two main parts: encryption and decryption, just like how we use words for communicating with others.
We can encrypt information using our favorite language (English), or we can decrypt it using a specific algorithm (such as Advanced Encryption Standard).
For example, when we talk to someone via phone or email; if we want to encrypt the message but don’t want others to hear what was said – then we use encryption.
If instead, we want to receive an encrypted message from another person – then we give them the private key that allows them to decrypt it using their own code.
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Difference between Cryptography and Cybersecurity
Both are separate entities that work to protect our data. Cybersecurity refers to keeping the data secure, while cryptography is a method that helps to protect the data. So both the terms are not interchangeable.
Cryptography is the art & science of producing secret messages and deciphering them. It can be broken by anyone who knows the right algorithms.
“Cryptography provides protection against unauthorized access to data stored inside a computer system or network”
Cybersecurity is the ability to keep information, computer systems and networks safe from hackers. It protects both people and data from unauthorized access and tampering;
However, it also prevents malicious software or viruses from gaining a foothold on a computer.
All our computers and mobile devices are connected to the internet. This is why security has become a major concern for all businesses.
Cryptography is an international scientific discipline that deals with the study and development of ways to encode information securely.
The field is also very applicable to other subjects like computer security, cyberspace, data communication and networking.
How Cryptography & Cybersecurity Works
Security is one of the most fundamental new technologies that has emerged in the past few years. Cryptography, as a field, is one of the oldest areas of computer science.
Cryptographic algorithms make up a large part of our daily lives, from encryption protocols to digital signatures, which are widely used to keep people safe online. Back in the day, it was primarily performed by humans alone.
Nowadays, it’s mostly done by computers, but humans still play an important role in cryptographic algorithms
Such as hashing functions, secret-key signing and public-key cryptography, which is still important to keep sensitive information secure but also reliable and efficient (cryptography on steroids!).
Cryptography and cybersecurity are very important areas of information technology research and management. It comprises cryptography, machine learning, artificial intelligence and other related topics.
The rise of cybersecurity has led us to develop protection mechanisms for digital devices. One tool that I am sure everyone is familiar with is antivirus software, but what about other types of protection software?
For example, when buying a new laptop, you need to ensure that it has antivirus software installed on it.
In computer science, cryptographic algorithms are an important part of any computer system (for example operating systems or applications). Encryption has many applications from security to banking & insurance payments.
What are the techniques that cryptography uses?
It deploys the use of distorted symbols, images, numbers, or microdots to make the message more complex. It becomes a challenge for a third party to obtain the data and decrypt the code.
Improved technology helps to convert the texts into ciphertexts that the receiver can convert back to original texts. Encryption is the most effective way to curb cybercrime.
Following are some other points that differentiate cryptography from cybersecurity:
- It is a method used to encrypt and decrypt the data so that unauthorized sources can’t access it.
- It is a mode of blockage where the access of information by unaccredited parties. The codes used by this are specific and confidential.
- It is just a method that helps cybersecurity protect our data in a better way.
- It mitigates cybercrime by using the technology of encryption.
- It uses a more personal approach because the sender and recipient know each other’s identities.
What are the objectives of cryptography?
The objective of cybersecurity and cryptography are the same. The only thing that makes them different is working. Cryptography fulfills these objectives by encryption and decryption, while cybersecurity uses many other things to accomplish its goals.
Following are the objectives of both these:
- Authentication
- Integrity
- Confidentiality
- Non-repudiation
All these are the objectives of cybersecurity and cryptography, but cryptography is all about encrypting the messages, and cybersecurity it is all about protecting every kind of information and data.
Why is cybersecurity important?
Extensive amounts of data are stored, processed, and transferred by institutions daily. And most of that data is sensitive, which means third-party access can create problems. If someone accesses this data, it can lead to problems.
It is crucial for data integrity. Cybercrime is a major threat to national integrity and security, which makes cyber security more important. Implementing cyber security is one of the best ways to reduce fraud and maintain data security.
Some other things that differentiate cyber security from cryptography are:
- It is not always effective in curbing unauthorized access because cyber-attackers can still bypass the security systems and steal the data.
- It is an entire entity that makes cryptography its part.
- It involves specific techniques and procedures which keep our data secure.
- It doesn’t use any personal approach because it directs most policies to general users, making it vulnerable to leakages and infiltrations.
What were the reasons behind developing cyber security?
It was developed to keep the data safe from every kind of unauthorized access so that individuals can use the technology without any worries.
Both cryptography and cyber security ensure that our data is safe. Cybersecurity is one of the best remedies to alleviate cybercrime, whereas cryptography helps cyber security achieve its objectives.
