Strong practical protocols

Abstract

Recent progress in the area of cryptography has given rise to strong cryptoalgorithms using complex mathematical systems. These algorithms often require quite sophisticated computing capabilities for their implementation and are designed to withstand attack by equally sophisticated opponents with nearly unlimited resources available to them. However, the mere existence o f such algorithms is not enough to solve the problems of message secrecy and authentication. The procedures for handling the data, including the use of a cryptoalgorithm, must insure that the desired level of security is achieved. Such a set of rules or procedures is known as a cryptographic protocol.