This updated textbook offers a comprehensive and detailed treatment of the methods and protocols needed to safeguard the massive amount of data necessary for today's information age. This edition includes chapters on pseudo-random bit generation, entity authentication, key establishment, public-key infrastructure, secret sharing schemes and multicast security. While Stinson (computer science, University of Waterloo) has attempted to limit the use of mathematics in the text, he recommends that readers be familiar with basic linear algebra and modular arithmetic. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)