Securing Network Communication

Abstract

At the heart of network programming is the need to transfer information from one place to another. When this transfer is done between processes on the same host or between hosts on a private network, then we don’t need to be so concerned about network security—the main considerations are general protocol design and endpoint security through authorization. However, with the rise of the Internet, it has become necessary to consider what happens to the information as it is passed between computers, routers, and other networks. The advent of semipublic networks has created a need for network security Thus, protocol design has taken on a new dimension as it has become necessary to consider not only how the information should be packaged, transferred, and interpreted, but also how to ensure that only authorized parties can access the information.