ACM Distinguished Speaker: Donald Costello

Abstract

The history of cryptography can be likened to a reawaking history of mathematics and computer science. The story of cryptography goes back 4000 years and some of the mathematics employed goes back as long. This talk will address the history of cryptography beginning with the Enigma used by the Germans in WWII and broken by world famous Mathematician/Computer Scientist Alan Turing. It will continue down to today's advanced crypto systems such as RSA, PGP and Elliptic Curve cryptography. The lecture will point out the key role that cryptography plays in the future of ecommerce and the new products and ways of doing business that results when secure communications through cryptography is available.

Date:  Thursday, March 13
Time:  4:00 PM
Location:  Alden Hall, Room 101