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Because I needed to look it up, too: "Bruce Schneier an American cryptographer, computer security specialist, and writer. He is the author of several books on

Because I needed to look it up, too: "Bruce Schneier an American cryptographer, computer security specialist, and writer. He is the author of several books on general security topics, computer security and cryptography." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Schneier http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Schneier

gizmo686 13y ago
If you ask me to name a cryptographer, Scheier is by far the first one that comes to mind. Also, in my experience, his book, Applied Cryptography, is by far the most reccomended book for people new to crypto.
- AgentConundrum 13y ago
  I know basically nothing about cryptography, but Scheier is the first to my mind as well. The only other name that even comes to my mind is Colin Percival, but that's only because of his comments on HN (cperciva).
- tptacek 13y ago
  Applied Cryptography is a terrible reference. Please don't recommend it to programmers. Instead, recommend Practical Cryptography / Cryptography Engineering (they're the same book), which Schneier co-authored with Niels Fergusen. Update: I said "terrible book" but I'm going to start being more precise about this. It's not a terrible "book"; I enjoyed the hell out of it when I was a teenager. It's just misleading and dangerous.
  - chii 13y ago
    Not having read (nor the time and inclination to read) the book, what is so bad about it, and what is the difference with the one you do recommend?
    - tptacek 13y ago
      https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=639786 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=639786
  - gizmo686 13y ago
    Your right. I learned crypto for an internship at a cryptography lab, so having the reference of the primitives that mere mortals should never touch, as well as a reference to many ideas that both worked and failed was extremely useful. Of course, if you want to learn crypto to use it well in your own (non-crypto) code, than those are probably exactly the qualities you do not want in your reference book.
eqyiel 13y ago
http://www.schneierfacts.com/ http://www.schneierfacts.com/
sneak 13y ago
I bet you can't triforce, either.

gizmo686 13y ago

If you ask me to name a cryptographer, Scheier is by far the first one that comes to mind. Also, in my experience, his book, Applied Cryptography, is by far the most reccomended book for people new to crypto.

AgentConundrum 13y ago
I know basically nothing about cryptography, but Scheier is the first to my mind as well. The only other name that even comes to my mind is Colin Percival, but that's only because of his comments on HN (cperciva).
tptacek 13y ago
Applied Cryptography is a terrible reference. Please don't recommend it to programmers. Instead, recommend Practical Cryptography / Cryptography Engineering (they're the same book), which Schneier co-authored with Niels Fergusen. Update: I said "terrible book" but I'm going to start being more precise about this. It's not a terrible "book"; I enjoyed the hell out of it when I was a teenager. It's just misleading and dangerous.
- chii 13y ago
  Not having read (nor the time and inclination to read) the book, what is so bad about it, and what is the difference with the one you do recommend?
  - tptacek 13y ago
    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=639786 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=639786
- gizmo686 13y ago
  Your right. I learned crypto for an internship at a cryptography lab, so having the reference of the primitives that mere mortals should never touch, as well as a reference to many ideas that both worked and failed was extremely useful. Of course, if you want to learn crypto to use it well in your own (non-crypto) code, than those are probably exactly the qualities you do not want in your reference book.

eqyiel 13y ago

http://www.schneierfacts.com/ http://www.schneierfacts.com/

sneak 13y ago

I bet you can't triforce, either.