Introduction into Cybersecurity through Cryptographic Algorithms

Abstract

Cybersecurity has become one of the most crucial national security concerns facing the U.S.A. and the rest of the world. This is due to society’s ever-growing dependency on technology, which has made it extremely vulnerable to different types of cyber-attacks. These security threats produce an inherent need for cybersecurity specialists in the public and private sectors. It is essential to start providing important elements of cybersecurity at the early stages of education (K-12). This project developed three interactive modules on cryptographic algorithms for the use of educators and students who want to study the fundamentals of cryptography, which is a critical part of cybersecurity. These instructional modules will be available on a website to provide the tools required to teach and learn basic cryptography and cryptographic algorithms. By using Bloom's Taxonomy to develop the modules, the author assures that each module will function as a straightforward guide for teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members, and anyone interested in enhancing their mathematical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in cryptography. Key Terms ⎯ Cryptography, Cryptosystem, Cybersecurity Education, Encryption.