Cryptography Inaccessibility due to complex structural designs

Cryptography is an ancient Greek method that deals with safeguarding information in transit. In the case of communication, adversaries are those who are not permitted to observe or comprehend information transferred from one party to another (Blaze et.al 1996, p.102). As a result, the strategy is designed to prevent rivals from acquiring undesired information from other parties. The process entails structuring and evaluating various information security protocols. Modern cryptography is primarily concerned with data security and integrity; it also performs authentication and repudiation tests. It is a technique that has applications in fields such as computer science, mathematics, and electrical engineering. In the earlier stages of information system and processes, cryptography was relatively functioning as encryption. It focused on data transmission channels whereby information changed from sensible to ambiguity until it gets to the intended receiver. Afterward, the sender would send the encryption keys to decode the message. Schneier (2007, p. 97) points that the kind of information process was prone to adversaries since anyone who accessed the keys could decode the information.

Today the networks have infiltrated the communication system, and information has shifted to digital form where only bits and bytes are used to carry data. Important messages can now be transmitted, stored and processed on computers system digitally and after that retrieved via communication channels. However, the power of information is always encouraging adversaries to find ways of accessing information regardless of its sensitivity. The primary targets currently are the computers and communication channels. Stallings (2006, p. 233) observes that adversaries disrupt and steal vital information from the systems. It cannot be that modern cryptography is a robust technique however the malicious intentions of adversaries have put the technology on the brink. Legitimate users of information are continually being frustrated by opponents, and hence cryptography is not 100 percent perfect. The paper will provide an in-depth analysis of the drawbacks of encryption in the modern communication as well in the future.

Inaccessibility due to complex structural designs

According to Blaze et.al (1996, p.123) due to escalating cases of thievery and constant frustrations from adversaries, unyielding encryption codes are used to create information. Information analysts are challenged by how people can bypass authentication certificates to access messages. Currently, there is none of the existing cryptography that can be customized to benefit a person without being accessed by others. As a result of increased insecurity, computer scientist design and upgrade their information structures. The kind of encryption codes and authentication commands used recently are highly advanced. The problem, however, arises when the systems to the extent that they are not user-friendly. For instance, institutions such as banks have adopted digital signatures to ensure safety from fraudsters. The situation, however, becomes severe when the program is so advanced to the extent that the error margin is so minimal.

Many cases have been reported whereby clients have failed to make crucial decisions because the system couldn’t authenticate their signatures. Moreover, the system is still prone to hackers and fraudster who attack client’s credentials thus making them non-functional to the system. The use of long algorithms to secure the system is crucial, yet it hinders accessibility of information (Stinson 2005, p. 431). It slows retrieval of information and makes the whole process so intensive. In this case, the systems makes the primary recipients vulnerable to middle attacks whereby malicious adversaries claim to be the original senders and hence end up corrupting the whole system.

High accessibility by intruders

Security of information cannot be guaranteed by cryptography. The program is highly accessible in that whenever there is a system upgrade; there is always a gap for bugging. It requires buffering by other systems that will minimize the threats (Loscocco et.al 1998, p. 312). The occurrence of a service denial and complete shut-down of processes is shared with cryptography. The malfunctions are often attributed by the various natures of cryptography. For instance when asymmetrical keys are not as long as keys in cryptography then the security of information is definitely compromised. Moreover, keys that asymmetrical are equivalently prone to attacks compared to secret-key cryptography. The only options that can be used to minimize the risk are to ensure that the keys are very long so that attacking process will take a long time before information is accessed. However, such systems are difficult to be found due to their computer intensiveness and significant cost. As a result, middle attacks happen most often where third parties access information before it gets to the owners (Mao 2003, p. 212).

It is easy to access information since malicious parties can easily impersonate people in conversations without being recognized. After that, they get the credentials and successful hack the process. The situation calls for a continuous system upgrade to minimize the risk of information leakage. It requires monitoring and assessment of weaknesses and potential strengths. System designers and analysts need to understand modern methods (emerging ways of attacking information systems) to enhance the security of information system.

Cryptography is based on mathematical puzzles

The system is subject to complex mathematical equations that when they are solved, they seize to be functional. For instance, the problem guiding the designers might require an understanding to balance power. On the other hand, hackers can solve the equation and understand the problem even better than the designers (Sharbaf 2011, p. 17). Once this happens, the attackers balance the power and change some components making the cryptography such that even the designers are locked out of the system. The technique is vulnerable, and it is not limited to a standard procedure. Those who access information as third parties are not regulated by rules and ethics. They fake and cheat where possible until they can attack the designers unprepared. In most cases, their methods are unpredictable, and sometimes they are crude such even the developers are not aware.

Hackers are like art thieves who will always find a way to access even the most guarded premises with highly sophisticated systems. To such criminals, cutting the walls using chainsaws isn’t a big deal as long as they achieve the purpose (Katz and Lindell 2014, p. 121). The same analogy is used by hackers in accessing information. No matter how complicated the design or data structure is, an attacker will find the most malicious ways to find a solution. It doesn’t matter how long the process will take and the cost they will incur to achieve their goals. None the most complicated cryptography can stand against such attacks. The thieves come via the walls too and their aim is to steal data. They will bribe the users, tamper with the software and even collude. In this case, the odds favor them because they are only focused on finding the slightest security flaw. The designers are tasked to find out all the gaps before the attackers find them. However, it takes only a single security hole to degrade a whole system.

Unreliability

Cryptography doesn’t secure from errors that will make the system vulnerable to threats. In case if the system is designed poorly it loses value since the cryptography cannot buffer the system. Diffie and Hellman (1976, p.649) notes that it comprises of protocols and procedures that don’t have any defensive structure for such events. However, it doesn’t mean the cryptography is completely useless. Strong cryptography sustains through a series of attacks for a while. It takes time for attackers to understand the fundamental structure of the cryptography. Until then, the system is intact and free from bugs. However, it reaches a point where the system can no longer withstand the attacks. At such moments attackers have found a way to get information, and it doesn’t matter how well or bad the encryption is the attackers will get through it.

Costly

Cryptography requires investment in both time and money. The technique design needs time to be processed. A company devotes its budget for such a project whereby various information specialists work towards achieving the same goal. However, the money spent doesn’t guarantee safety and credibility of the system. At some point, the system becomes vulnerable to attackers, and its value depreciates. Cryptography designing requires ample time. The specialist also needs time to assess and evaluate the system before it’s handed over for public use. In case the system contains flaws more money is invested in correcting the bugs. Moreover, an additional technique in the communication process delays it and thus more time is consumed.

The project might also not meet the goals of an organization for instance where the system is weak, and the firm required a robust system that could handle financial transactions such as that of PayPal and Alibaba (Diffie and Hellman 1976, p.650). Once the cryptography is introduced to a system, it requires management and frequent maintenance. Any information that gets to the public domain concerning the ineffectiveness of the scheme costs the company its publicity which might need massive budgets to reclaim.

Conclusion

The world spends billions of dollars to enhance information security yet most of the cost is wasted through insecure outputs. It ’s hard to identify weak and vigorous cryptography since both look the same. They function the same, and even the user interfaces are similar. However, the difference is that one of the interfaces allows other people to access information that they are not supposed to get. Only system designers have the ability to note the difference between the two interfaces. Cryptography at its best helps to enhance security protocols, authenticity, accountability, and accuracy. Most important the technique provides confidentiality between the interfaces and no fraud can occur. However, at its worst cryptography is prone to fraud especially in e-commerce and financial transactions. It also provides a platform for hackers to hide their identity and continue to terrorize users. It allows vandals to manipulate information and prevent other people from accessing them.

The system can make attackers ‘ghosts’ who regularly torment people yet none can trace who they are. However, focusing on future cryptography is becoming more and more relevant to commerce. People will be using computer networks more than today to transact business and have very confidential communication. The modern cryptography provides a promising platform for users due to its reliability, accuracy, and confidentiality.

Reference list

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Diffie, W. and Hellman, M., 1976. New directions in cryptography. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, 22(6), pp.644-654.

Katz, J. and Lindell, Y., 2014. Introduction to modern cryptography. CRC Press.

Loscocco, P.A., Smalley, S.D., Muckelbauer, P.A., Taylor, R.C., Turner, S.J. and Farrell, J.F., 1998, October. The inevitability of failure: The flawed assumption of security in modern computing environments. In Proceedings of the 21st National Information Systems Security Conference (Vol. 10, pp. 303-314).

Mao, W., 2003. Modern Cryptography: Theory and practice. Prentice Hall Professional Technical Reference.

Schneier, B., 2007. Applied cryptography: protocols, algorithms, and source code in C. John Wiley & Sons.

Stallings, W., 2006. Cryptography and network security: principles and practices. Pearson Education India.

Stinson, D.R., 2005. Cryptography: theory and practice. CRC Press.

Sharbaf, M.S., 2011, November. Quantum cryptography: An emerging technology in network security. In Technologies for Homeland Security (HST), 2011 IEEE International Conference on (pp. 13-19). IEEE.