Serious Cryptography, 2nd Edition - by Jean-Philippe Aumasson (Paperback)

About the Book

Thoroughly updated with a new chapter on cryptocurrency cryptography.

Book Synopsis

Crypto can be cryptic. Serious Cryptography, 2nd Edition arms you with the tools you need to pave the way to understanding modern crypto.

This thoroughly revised and updated edition of the bestselling introduction to modern cryptography breaks down fundamental mathematical concepts without shying away from meaty discussions of how they work. In this practical guide, you'll gain immeasurable insight into topics like authenticated encryption, secure randomness, hash functions, block ciphers, and public-key techniques such as RSA and elliptic curve cryptography.

You'll find coverage of topics like:

• The basics of computational security, attacker models, and forward secrecy
• The strengths and limitations of the TLS protocol behind HTTPS secure websites
• Quantum computation and post-quantum cryptography
• How algorithms like AES, ECDSA, Ed25519, Salsa20, and SHA-3 work
• Advanced techniques like multisignatures, threshold signing, and zero-knowledge proofs

Each chapter includes a discussion of common implementation mistakes using real-world examples and details what could go wrong and how to avoid these pitfalls. And, true to form, you'll get just enough math to show you how the algorithms work so that you can understand what makes a particular solution effective--and how they break.

NEW TO THIS EDITION: This second edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect the latest developments in cryptography. You'll also find a completely new chapter covering the cryptographic protocols in cryptocurrency and blockchain systems.

Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a beginner looking to dive into the field, Serious Cryptography will demystify this often intimidating topic. You'll grow to understand modern encryption and its applications so that you can make better decisions about what to implement, when, and how.

Review Quotes

"Like having a wise friend explain all of cryptography's mysteries without making your head spin. The book stands out for its practical approach, which provides real-world applications and insights. It is considered mandatory reading for security engineers undergoing onboarding within my team, providing an essential foundation for their professional development."
--Anastasiia Voitova, Head of security engineering at Cossack Labs

"Fills [the need for an accessible and readable resource on cryptography], taking the reader on a journey through different cryptographic tools and how to use them, as well as the important 'what can go wrong' sections that fill the book. . . Serious Cryptography is an enjoyable introduction to the field, and one that comes highly recommended."
--Yehuda Lindell, Head of Cryptography at Coinbase

"A properly serious introduction . . it has the right structure on which one can build a thorough understanding of cryptography."
--Thomas Pornin, Technical Vice President, NCC Group

About the Author

Jean-Philippe (JP) Aumasson holds a PhD in cryptography and has authored over 60 research articles. His cryptographic algorithms BLAKE2 and SipHash run in every Linux system, with his BLAKE3 renowned for its exceptional speed. Aumasson, currently CSO at Taurus SA, also conducts cryptography training and speaks at leading conferences worldwide such as Black Hat, DEF CON, Troopers, and Infiltrate.