How to get started with number coding and cryptography

Question

hi im very much intrested in number coding and cryptography and want to learn more abt this ........but need some neccesary directions on how to get started and with what books to get started...........

Answer 1

A good overview book on cryptography specifically is Bruce Schneier's _Applied Cryptography_.   Another of Bruce's books, _Secrets and Lies_, is more of a security overview for a general audience.  He also has a blog on security:

  http://www.schneier.com/blog/

There are some links at that site to resources on cryptography.

If you are serious about getting into cryptography, you will need a strong background in math, particularly discrete math and number theory.  (You will see that there's quite a bit of math in the _Applied Cryptography_ book.)