Following an introductory chapter, Chapter 1, the book is organized into four parts:
Part One: Symmetric Ciphers: Provides a survey of symmetric encryption, including classical and modern algorithms. The emphasis is on the two most important algorithms, the Data Encryption Standard (DES) and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). This part also addresses message authentication and key management.
Part Two: Public-Key Encryption and Hash Functions: Provides a survey of public-key algorithms, including RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adelman) and elliptic curve. It also covers public-key applications, including digital signatures and key exchange.
Part Three: Network Security Practice: Examines the use of cryptographic algorithms and security protocols to provide security over networks and the Internet. Topics covered include user authentication, e-mail, IP security, and Web security.
Part Four: System Security: Deals with security facilities designed to protect a computer system from security threats, including intruders, viruses, and worms. This part also looks at firewall technology.
Many of the cryptographic algorithms and network security protocols and applications described in this book have been specified as standards. The most important of these are Internet Standards, defined in Internet RFCs (Request for Comments), and Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS), issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Appendix A discusses the standards-making process and lists the standards cited in this book.
