Cryptography is the process of encrypting and decrypting data to protect it from unauthorized access. The document discusses the history of cryptography from early substitution ciphers to modern algorithms like AES. It describes symmetric cryptography which uses a single key and asymmetric cryptography which uses public/private key pairs. Popular algorithms for encryption, digital signatures, and hashing are also outlined along with attacks that can compromise cryptosystems like brute force and man-in-the-middle attacks.