This document provides an overview of cryptographic techniques, including:
- Basic terminology related to cryptography like plaintext, ciphertext, encryption, decryption, etc.
- Conventional encryption principles like the use of algorithms and secret keys.
- Characteristics of cryptographic techniques like symmetric vs asymmetric encryption.
- Classical symmetric encryption algorithms like the Caesar cipher, monoalphabetic cipher, Playfair cipher, polyalphabetic ciphers like the Vigenère cipher, and transposition ciphers.
- Principles of modern block ciphers like DES, including the use of Feistel networks, confusion and diffusion properties, and encryption/decryption processes.