RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman)

RSA is a public-key cryptography algorithm named after its inventors—Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Len Adleman—who developed it in 1977 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is one of the earliest and most widely used algorithms for secure data transmission and remains fundamental in the field of digital security.

The RSA algorithm involves two keys: a public key, which can be shared openly, and a private key, which must be kept secret. The core functionality of RSA is based on the mathematical challenge of factoring very large numbers, a problem that is computationally intensive and forms the basis of the security provided by the algorithm.

RSA is implemented in various software and used in numerous applications where secure data transmission is necessary. It is a standard for encryptive email transmissions, secure web browsing, and in the establishment of secure connections between servers and clients.

Despite its wide usage, RSA's security is directly tied to key size, and with advancements in computing power, the key lengths needed for secure RSA encryption have increased. Today, keys less than 2048 bits are generally considered insecure due to the feasibility of breaking them with sufficient computing resources.

In summary, RSA remains a cornerstone in the field of cryptography, providing robust security solutions for data encryption and digital signatures based on its solid mathematical foundation and widespread implementation.