<P style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%" soNormal> With its conversational tone and practical focus, this text mixes applied and theoretical aspects for a solid introduction to cryptography and security, including the latest significant advancements in the field. Assumes a minimal background. The level of math sophistication is equivalent to a course in linear algebra. Presents applications and protocols where cryptographic primitives are used in practice, such as SET and SSL. Provides a detailed explanation of AES, which has replaced Feistel-based ciphers (DES) as the standard block cipher algorithm. Includes expanded discussions of block ciphers, hash functions, and multicollisions, plus additional attacks on RSA to make readers aware of the strengths and shortcomings of this popular scheme. For engineers interested in learning more about cryptography.</P>