Cryptography : current status and future trends

This paper discusses the main trends and process of cryptographically fields from the Ceaser time up to year 2003. The revolutionary concepts of public - key cryptography provided a new and ingenious method for key exchange, the security of which is based on the intractability of the " discrete logarithm problem ". The idea was clear and generated extensive interest and activity in the cryptography community. One of the most significant contributions provided by public - key cryptography is the " digital signature ". The conclusions and suggestions for Arabic activities with respect to the required interest in this field is described.