Run through of an average day:
Watch the news on satellite TV
Unlock you're with a keyless lock numeric pad
Hook up you're iPod in your car
Pay for gas with a credit card
Go through a toll paid for with E-Z Pass
Get to work enter you're password in your computer
Use of all of these things is using encryption.
Encryption is used everyday and most of the population is oblivious to its presence. However, how would the signals be recognized from space without encryption and you create your own code when unlocking your car. Most of these products have encryption due to security matters but it is also how these devices are recognized to be yours and helps with identification and recognition of the product.
That is interesting to bring up the idea that encryption can be used for identification and recognition purposes. I have always thought of it in the sense of secrecy and privacy. While it makes perfect sense that codes would be used for identification, in a world where privacy is sacred due to the value of information, people forget about the other uses of cryptography what don't involve protection.
ReplyDeleteIt is always interesting to analyze each aspect of our days in terms of cryptology. Often when I think about cryptology my mind automatically goes to The Code Book and old uses of cryptology. Like the comment above says, we infrequently think about the use of cryptology for privacy and personal use. Not only items like credit cards, but also cars that have specific number codes to unlock them, face or finger print analysis use cryptology. It is good to take a step back every once in a while and appreciate all the good things that technology provides us with.
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