Data Cryptographic Task

A Data Cryptographic Task is a Data Transformation Task that can be solved by a Data Cryptographic System that implements a Data Cryptographic Algorithm.

• Context:
  • Task Input: plaintext/ciphertext.
  • Task Output: ciphertext/plaintext.
  • It can range from being a Data Encryption Task to being a Data Decryption Task.
• Example(s):
  • a Public Key Cryptography (PKC) Task,
  • a Secret Key Cryptography (SKC) Task,
  • a Hash Encryption Task,
    • …
  • …
• Counter-Example(s):
  • a Data Decryption Task,
  • a Data Decoding Task,
  • a Data Encryption Task,
  • a Data Encoding Task,
  • a Crypto-Shredding Task,
  • a Database Caching Task,
  • a Disk Encryption Algorithm.
• See: SSH, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Cryptosystem, Cold Boot Attack, Cyberspace Electronic Security Act, Geoblocking, Data Erasure, Information Security, Hash Function, Decentralized Online Social Network, Authentication Server, Authentication Protocol, Public Key Certificate.

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References

2021a

• (Kessler, 2021) ⇒ Gary C. Kessler (2021)."2. Basic Concepts Of Cryptography". In: "An Overview of Cryptography".
  • QUOTE: There are five primary functions of cryptography:
    • 1.Privacy/confidentiality: Ensuring that no one can read the message except the intended receiver.
    • 2. Authentication: The process of proving one's identity.
    • 3. Integrity: Assuring the receiver that the received message has not been altered in any way from the original.
    • 4. Non-repudiation: A mechanism to prove that the sender really sent this message.
    • 5. Key exchange: The method by which crypto keys are shared between sender and receiver.

In cryptography, we start with the unencrypted data, referred to as plaintext. Plaintext is encrypted into ciphertext, which will in turn (usually) be decrypted back into usable plaintext. The encryption and decryption is based upon the type of cryptography scheme being employed and some form of key. For those who like formulas, this process is sometimes written as:

$C = E_k(P)$

$P = D_k(C)$

where $P$ = plaintext, $C$ = ciphertext, $E$ = the encryption method, $D$ = the decryption method, and $k$ = the key.

2021b

• (Kessler, 2021) ⇒ Gary C. Kessler (2021)."3. Types Of Cryptographic Algorithms". In: "An Overview of Cryptography".
  • QUOTE: There are several ways of classifying cryptographic algorithms. For purposes of this paper, they will be categorized based on the number of keys that are employed for encryption and decryption, and further defined by their application and use. The three types of algorithms that will be discussed are (Figure 1):
  • Secret Key Cryptography (SKC): Uses a single key for both encryption and decryption; also called symmetric encryption. Primarily used for privacy and confidentiality.
  • Public Key Cryptography (PKC): Uses one key for encryption and another for decryption; also called asymmetric encryption. Primarily used for authentication, non-repudiation, and key exchange.
  • Hash Functions: Uses a mathematical transformation to irreversibly "encrypt" information, providing a digital fingerprint. Primarily used for message integrity.

Figure 1: Three types of cryptography: secret key, public key, and hash function.

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