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Cryptography by Panos Louridas. M.I.T. Press, 2024 (paperbound, $18.95)
Don’t be misled by the straightforward title—this crash course is an engaging and perfectly paced introduction to cryptography, which computer scientist Panos Louridas mischievously describes as “the art and science of keeping and revealing secrets.” Far from being a language just for hackers, cryptography is vital to the security technologies we use daily, from search histories to gym locker codes. The book covers both the history and principles of the field, complemented by well-designed diagrams that let you test your cryptography skills. In just five chapters, Louridas cracks the code on distilling an intimidating smorgasbord of topics into a digestible and delightful package.
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