What is Cryptography in Cyber Security? An Ultimate Guide

Q: Why is it called cryptography?

Kryptos, which means 'hidden' or 'secret,' and graphein, which means 'to write,' are the Greek roots from which the word 'cryptography' is derived; this literally translates to 'secret writing.'

What is Cryptography in Cyber Security? An Ultimate Guide

05 September, 2025
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Introduction: Cryptography in Cyber Security

Do you know how Cryptography in Cyber Security works and what its benefits are? If not, then you really need to know about it. Cryptography techniques can help organizations to secure their data against unauthorized users.

In the end, we will talk about how you can learn such skills professionally and introduce you to a reputed training institute offering a dedicated training & certification program related to cybersecurity skills. What are we waiting for? Let’s get started!

What is Cryptography?

Learn about What is Cryptography? at Craw Security

The art and study of secure communication methods in the presence of adversaries is known as cryptography. Through the use of coded methods, data is converted into an unintelligible format known as ciphertext, which can only be unlocked by authorized individuals with a certain key.

Ensuring confidentiality, data integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation are its main objectives. Let’s take a look at what “Cryptography in Cyber Security” is!

Types of Cryptography

S.No.	Types	What?
1.	Symmetric-Key Cryptography	This technique encrypts and decrypts data using a single, shared secret key.
2.	Asymmetric-Key Cryptography	A public key is used for encryption in this technique, which is often referred to as public-key cryptography, and a private key is used for decryption.
3.	Hash Functions	Any size of data can be converted into a fixed-length string of characters known as a hash or message digest using a hash function, a one-way cryptographic procedure.

The Importance of Cryptography in Cyber Security

The following is the importance of cryptography in cybersecurity:

Confidentiality: It guarantees that information is kept confidential and that only those with permission can access it.
Data Integrity: Cryptography ensures that information hasn’t been changed or tampered with while being sent or stored.
Authentication: By confirming the sender’s or recipient’s identity, it guarantees that the communication is coming from a reliable source.
Non-Repudiation: This stops a sender from subsequently denying that they sent a transaction or a communication.
Secure Communications: Data sent via email, websites, and messaging apps is protected by cryptography, which safeguards online conversations.
Password and Data Storage: In the event of a database breach, it jumbles private user data, such as passwords, making it unreadable.
Digital Currencies: The core technology behind cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin is cryptography, which secures transactions and regulates the generation of new units.
Malware Prevention: By confirming the legitimacy of software, cryptographic signatures aid in stopping the spread of viruses and malware.

Common Problems Solved by Cryptography

S.No.	Problems	What?
1.	Eavesdropping and Data Theft	Data is encrypted by cryptography, rendering it unintelligible to unauthorized individuals who may intercept it.
2.	Data Tampering	To guarantee data integrity and identify any unwanted changes, it makes use of hash algorithms and digital signatures.
3.	Identity Spoofing	By using public-key infrastructure and digital certificates to authenticate users and systems, cryptography stops identity fraud.
4.	Replay Attacks	Cryptographic protocols use timestamps and nonces to stop hackers from sending the same old, valid data packets again.
5.	Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks	Certain DoS attacks can be lessened with the use of cryptographic mechanisms, which authenticate incoming communication and filter out malicious requests.
6.	Insider Threats	By encrypting sensitive data and putting access rules in such that only authorized users may decrypt it, it can shield it from malevolent insiders.
7.	Weak Password Storage	Passwords are converted into a one-way hashed format via cryptography, making it impossible to recover them even in the event of a database breach.
8.	Unauthorized Access to Systems	By guaranteeing that only verified users with the appropriate cryptographic keys can access a system or network, it secures system logins and communications.

Types of Attacks on Cryptographic Keys

The following are the types of attacks on cryptographic keys:

Brute-Force Attack: Until the right key combination is discovered, an attacker attempts every potential combination.
Side-Channel Attack: This attack takes advantage of data that has been released from a cryptographic system’s physical implementation, like power usage or electromagnetic radiation.
Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attack: When two parties think they are speaking directly, an attacker surreptitiously intercepts and passes messages between them.
Replay Attack: To obtain unauthorized access, an attacker maliciously retransmits a legitimate data communication after intercepting it.
Known-Plaintext Attack (KPA): The key is ascertained by the attacker using a collection of plaintexts and the ciphertexts that correspond to them.

Why Are Cryptographic Key Attacks Successful?

S.No.	Factors	Why?
1.	Weak Key Management	Ineffective key management is most frequently the cause of successful assaults. This entails utilizing weak, simple-to-guess keys, not changing them frequently, and not storing or sending them securely.
2.	Implementation Flaws	Even with a robust algorithm, security flaws may arise due to mistakes in the hardware or software that uses it. This is what side-channel assaults take advantage of, for instance, by determining the key by examining timing or power usage.
3.	Vulnerable Algorithms	There may be mathematical flaws in some cryptographic methods that make it possible to crack the encryption without using a brute-force method. Algorithms that were once thought to be secure could become susceptible to more potent computers as technology develops.
4.	Human Error	Human error, such as falling into phishing scams and social engineering, can provide attackers with valuable information or private keys that they need to begin an attack.
5.	Outdated Technology	Systems that employ antiquated or deprecated cryptographic protocols and key lengths are vulnerable to contemporary attacks that have emerged since the protocols’ inception.

Conclusion

Now that we have talked about “Cryptography in Cyber Security,” you might want to learn about it in depth. For that, you can get in contact with Craw Security, offering the 6 Month Cyber Security Crash Course in Singapore to IT Aspirants.

During the training sessions, students will experience a lot more depth and understanding of the concepts through practicals will be easy to understand. Moreover, online sessions offered by Craw Security will facilitate students in remote learning.

After the completion of the 6 Month Cyber Security Crash Course in Singapore offered by Craw Security, students will receive a dedicated certificate validating their honed knowledge & skills during the sessions. What are you waiting for? Contact, Now!

Frequently Asked Questions

About Cryptography in Cyber Security

1. What do you mean by cryptography?

By utilizing a coded system to transform information into an unintelligible format that only authorized users can access and comprehend, cryptography is the science of safeguarding communications.

2. What are the three types of cryptography?

The following are the 3 types of cryptography:

Symmetric-Key Cryptography,

Asymmetric-Key Cryptography, and

Licensed by Google.

3. What is the role of cryptography in cybersecurity?

The following are the roles of cryptography in cybersecurity:

Confidentiality,
Data Integrity,
Authentication,
Non-Repudiation, and
Secure Communications.

4. When was cryptography used?

The earliest recorded instances of cryptography date back to approximately 1900 BCE in ancient Egypt, but the practice has been around for thousands of years.

5. Why is it called cryptography?

Kryptos, which means “hidden” or “secret,” and graphein, which means “to write,” are the Greek roots from which the word “cryptography” is derived; this literally translates to “secret writing.”

6. What is the first goal of cryptography?

Ensuring secrecy, or keeping information hidden from unauthorized persons, is the first and main objective of cryptography.