Title: Module 8 Objectives and Activities List
Course: IN 2001 Principle of Information Assurance > Section: Module 8: Chapter Eight

Learning Objectives

By successfully completing this module, the student will be able to:

- Chronicle the most significant events and discoveries in the history of cryptology
- Explain the basic principles of cryptography
- Describe the operating principles of the most popular cryptography tools
- List and explicate the major protocols used for secure communications
- Discuss the nature and execution of the dominant methods of attack used against cryptosystems

Learning Activities

- Read Chapter 8
- Read Instructor Notes

Chapter 8 presents the underlying foundations of modern cryptosystems, as well as a discussion of the architectures and implementations of those cryptosystems.  The chapter begins with an overview of the history of modern cryptology and a discussion of the various types of ciphers that played key roles in that history.  It also examines some of the mathematical techniques that comprise cryptosystems, including hash functions.  The chapter then extends this discussion by comparing traditional and modern symmetric encryption systems.  The chapter describes the role of asymmetric systems as the foundation of public-key encryption systems.  Also covered in this chapter are the cryptography-based protocols used in secure communications; these include protocols such as SHTTP, SMIME, SET and SSH.  The chapter then provides a discussion of steganography and its emerging role as an effective means of hiding information.  Finally, the chapter concludes by revisiting those attacks on information security that are specifically targeted at cryptosystems.

Assessment Activities

- Complete Discussion Question 8
- Complete Exercise 8
- Complete Quiz 8