Cryptography is a discipline of mathematics and computer science
concerned with information security and related issues, particularly
encryption and authentication. Prior to the early 20th century,
cryptography was chiefly concerned with linguistic patterns. Since
then, the emphasis has shifted, and cryptography now makes extensive
use of areas of mathematics such as of information theory,
computational complexity, statistics, combinatorics, and especially
number theory. Cryptography is also a branch of engineering, but an
unusual one, as it deals with active, intelligent and malevolent
opposition. There is also active research examining the relationship
between cryptographic problems and quantum physics. Cryptography is
central to the techniques used in computer and network security for
such purposes as access control and information confidentiality.
Cryptography is used in many applications that touch everyday life;
the security of ATM cards, computer passwords, and electronic commerce
all depend on cryptography.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptography
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1099:
First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon was elected the first Protector of
the Holy Sepulchre in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_of_Bouillon)
1456:
Forces under John Hunyadi (pictured) lifted the Siege of Belgrade and
defeated an Ottoman invasion into the Kingdom of Hungary.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Belgrade)
1933:
Wiley Post became the first pilot to fly a fixed-wing aircraft solo
around the world.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiley_Post)
1946:
An Irgun bomb destroyed the headquarters of the British Mandate of
Palestine at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, killing 90.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_David_Hotel_bombing)
2003:
Coalition forces attacked a compound in Mosul, Iraq, killing two of
Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay, the "aces of hearts and clubs"
in the U.S. list of most-wanted Iraqis after the invasion of Iraq.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uday_Hussein)
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Wikiquote of the day:
We thought we were done with these things but we were wrong.We
thought, because we had power, we had wisdom.We thought the long train
would run to the end of Time.We thought the light would increase.Now
the long train stands derailed and the bandits loot it.Now the boar
and the asp have power in our time.Now the night rolls back on the
West and the night is solid.Our fathers and ourselves sowed dragon's
teeth. Our children know and suffer the armed men. -- Stephen Vincent
Benet
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stephen_Vincent_Ben%C3%A9t