Introduction to Cryptography: Fundamentals and Applications

This lecture introduces the fundamentals of cryptography, covering ancient cryptography, modern cryptographic systems, and the main cryptographic primitives. Topics include symmetric encryption, message authentication codes, key agreement protocols, public-key cryptosystems, and digital signatures. The instructor emphasizes the importance of secure communication over insecure channels and discusses the main cryptographic standards used in various applications, such as TLS, IPSEC, SSH, and PGP. Students are expected to understand the evolution of cryptography, cryptanalysis methods, and the secure communication trilogy: confidentiality, authentication, and integrity.