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Cryptography is the encryption of data so that it is only known by the intended parties. It is one of the most important human inventions and has a very long history. Ancient Greeks and Romans used to send secret messages by substituting letters only decipherable with a secret key.

During World War II innovation in encryption was pushed to new heights, because messages concerning vital information such as troop movements were broadcast. Anyone with a radio could listen to them, and so it was vital that only the intended audience could understand the messages. The Germans developed an encryption machine called Enigma especially designed for the German military (including the navy) so they could send messages over the radio. Later sciences developed a new method that allowed anyone to send each other private and secure messages. In this section you will uncover how encryption works and how we use it today to send secure messages and secure blockchain data.