Davie, Were you looking to secure client/server communications?
A common programming solution for this requirement would be to use OpenSSL (http://www.openssl.org/) for c++ or JSSE (http://java.sun.com/products/jsse/) for Java. You don't need to be an expert on the underlying algorithms to work with the libraries. You will have to gain a basic understanding of X.509 certificates, or follow examples like a monkey and hope for the best! The basic gist is: * Create certificates for the client(s) and server(s) http://www.post1.com/home/ngps/m2/howto.ca.html * Add code to use the certs and validate the other end of the connection. (Follow examples). * Protect your private key files. These are usually password protected. Here are some relevant articles: http://www.ddj.com/documents/s=901/ddj9907c/9907c.htm http://www.iplanet.com/developer/docs/articles/security/pki.html http://www.iplanet.com/developer/docs/articles/security/ssl.html Regards, David > -----Original Message----- > From: Brannon Wilson Smith [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 1:17 PM > To: davie elliott > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: cryptography > > > There is definitely more to encryption than one algorithm. > AFAIK, most > banks are using triple DES at the moment. RSA is a popular > algorithm, but > there are a few problems with it (for you): 1) you must be > able to pick > large primes, which means you need to know fermat's little > theorem as well > as having some sort of large integer class, 2) you must be > able to pick > and encryption exponent appropriately, which is more > computation. You can > search for RSA online, and you'll find some reasonable explanations. > DES employs left-right shifts, and an arbitrarily chosen function and > key. It's tough to explain, but there are a lot of places online that > have good explanations. Again, there's a problem that you > need a large > integer class. > > Good luck. > > --Brannon Smith > > On Sat, 23 Mar 2002, [iso-8859-1] davie elliott wrote: > > > I was wondering if I could get a little information > > please. > > > > I have to do a huge program at the end of my course > > and I was thinking about making a bank program. I > > would like to make it as realistic as possible, so I > > have had a look at some encryption algorithms. > > However, one of my lecturers has told me that there is > > more to encrytion than just one algorithm. I was > > wondering if anyone can give me a few sites or point > > me in the right direction so that I can reaserch into > > encrytpion deeper. > > > > Thank you > > > > P.S. someone posted a couple of sites a while back on > > cryptography, but I had to format before I got chance > > to view them. I would e greatful if that person could > > repost them. > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Do You Yahoo!? > > Everything you'll ever need on one web page > > from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts > > http://uk.my.yahoo.com > > > >
