A cryptographer is someone who practices or studies cryptography, which is the science of keeping secrets hidden. Encrypting digital information, such as e-mail, to protect it as it travels from one digital source to another is the main focus of modern cryptography. Data security is extremely important to almost everyone, not just those who handle highly sensitive data. If proper security measures are not in place, every transaction or interaction made on the Internet could be detected and read by others. The cryptographer ensures that only those with the appropriate permissions have access to certain information.
When working to encrypt data, a cryptographer has several objectives. Authentication, the process of proving the identity of someone attempting to access a specific piece of information, is one of the goals. Another goal is to ensure that a given piece of information only reaches the intended audience. In addition, the cryptographer must ensure that a secure message is not tampered with between the sender and the receiver. He must be able to identify the sender with certainty so that no one can send a message and claim it came from someone else.
If you want to be a cryptographer, you should study computer science in college. It is critical to know and understand the workings of computer systems if one wishes to keep data in them encrypted. A graduate degree in mathematics or computer science is also very beneficial to a career in cryptography after graduation. Mathematics are critical to the study and practice of cryptography, so a solid understanding of the subject is essential.
A cryptographer can find work in a variety of places after earning a degree, as many companies and government agencies hire cryptographers on a regular basis. Many cryptographers are employed by government agencies such as the National Security Agency (NSA), which is in charge of encrypting important government data transmissions. A cryptographer may also find work in a bank, as banks go to great lengths to ensure the security of their clients’ transactions.
Throughout history, cryptographers have been used by various military forces to send encrypted messages from one location to another. It was frequently necessary to keep sensitive information, such as strategies and technological data, hidden from enemy forces. Information stored on computers and digital communications must be kept secret from enemy forces in today’s world.