[109172] in Cypherpunks
CDR: Book Review: AC [/.]
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jim Choate)
Fri Mar 12 18:16:28 1999
From: Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com>
To: cypherpunks@einstein.ssz.com
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 17:03:28 -0600 (CST)
Reply-To: Jim Choate <ravage@einstein.ssz.com>
X-URL: http://slashdot.org/books/99/03/11/1623221.shtml
REVIEW: Applied Cryptography, 2nd Edition
by Bruce Schneier
(John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-11709-9)
Nutshell
Review: A fantastic introduction and a handy reference on one of
computer science's most interesting fields.
Rating: Outstanding (8/10)
Review by: Tal Cohen
More than any other field in computer science, cryptography is
associated with computer warfare. Recent international treaties define
cryptographic algorithms as weapons, and the laws of many countries
prohibit either the development, the usage, or the export of
cryptographic algorithms. Yet while feared by governments,
cryptography is one of the most fascinating -- and useful -- fields of
algorithmics.
The whole point of cryptography is to solve problems. (Actually,
that's the whole point of computers -- something many peopletend to
forget.) Cryptography solves problems that involve secrecy,
authentication, integrity, and dishonest people. You can learn all
about cryptographic algorithms and techniques, but these are academic
unless they can solve a problem.
Bruce Schneier's Applied Cryptography, in its second edition, is
probably the best introduction to the field. Schneier is not merely an
excellent technical writer, but also a researcherin the field; for
example, he developed the public-domain Blowfish encryption algorithm.
But unlike many works by other researchers, Schneier's work does not
read like a dry paper for a scientific journal. His writing is very
enjoyable (though the jokes are overdone at times) and his
explanations are almost always lucid.
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Alexis A. Gilliland
The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate
Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com
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