Cryptography, computers in

Cryptography is the science of transforming messages for the purpose of making the message unintelligible to all but the intended receiver of the message. The term data encryption refers to the use of cryptographic methods in computer communications for the same reason, but also implies the additional goals of providing assurance to the receiver that the message is not a forgery, and/or allowing the receiver to prove to a third party that the message is not a forgery. These various aims are called, respectively, the goals of communication security, authentication, and digital signatures.