Hello! My name is Marco Baldi and I am a Telecommunications professor specialising in Cybersecurity or, in other words, the security of data and digital systems. We live in a world which is increasingly connected and full of opportunities, but it is important to understand the risks concealed behind digital media. Awareness is the first line of defence. During this course, you will learn about encryption. Cryptography is the study of techniques for achieving secure communication, in other words ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and authenticity of communications between two users. This may seem like an issue far removed from your everyday needs but, in reality, it concerns you directly. For instance, while using instant messaging apps, have you ever come across this message: “Messages you send on this chat are protected with end-to-end encryption. No-one else can read or listen to your messages or calls”? If so, you are using encryption to protect your privacy. This encryption method uses keys exchanged directly between you and the other person. In theory, this makes your conversation impossible to intercept by the mobile carrier or via the web. Encryption gives us algorithms to make our communications confidential, create digital signatures and ensure that the people we are talking to are really who we think they are. This is why it is important that you understand these techniques. During this course, you will learn about what encryption is, the technologies associated with it, how this practice has evolved over time, and some practical examples. At the end of this course, you will be equipped to distinguish a secure communication from a less secure one and familiar with the tools available for ensuring that the information you send every day over the Internet is secure.
