RSA

RSA is a widely used public-key cryptosystem for secure data transmission, developed by Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman in 1977. It enables encryption and digital signatures by leveraging the mathematical difficulty of factoring large prime numbers, forming the basis for many security protocols like SSL/TLS and SSH.

Also known as: RSA cryptosystem, Rivest-Shamir-Adleman, Public-key cryptography, Asymmetric encryption, RSA algorithm

Why learn RSA?

Developers should learn RSA for implementing secure communication, authentication, and data integrity in applications, such as encrypting sensitive data in transit or verifying digital signatures in software distribution. It is essential for roles in cybersecurity, web development (e.g., HTTPS), and systems that require robust encryption standards.

Learning Resources

• docs: RSA (cryptosystem) - Wikipedia
• video: Khan Academy: RSA Encryption
• course: Cryptography I by Stanford University (Coursera)
• tutorial: Practical Cryptography for Developers
• book: Introduction to Modern Cryptography by Katz and Lindell