Information security is usually considered as the set of practices intended to keep data secure from unauthorized access or alterations, both when it is being stored and when it is being transmitted through any kind of communication networks. Thus, the term information security refers to the processes and methodologies which are designed and implemented to protect any form of confidential, private, and sensitive information or data from unauthorized access, use, misuse, disclosure, destruction, modification, or disruption. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability are the main objectives of information security. As there are many areas covered by information security, it often involves the implementation of various types of security services and mechanisms, including cryptography, application security, system security, infrastructure security, vulnerability management, incident response, and disaster recovery. Therefore, information security spans various research areas like cryptography, mobile computing, cloud computing, social media, cyber forensics, etc.
The purpose of this book is not to provide a survey or a complete coverage of the so many aspects of information security. Instead, the book covers some selected topic areas of information security from the respective of both research and education. In the first part of the book, the topic of quantum cryptography and the issues of its integration with the current network infrastructure are emphasized. Some other topics mainly related to network security are covered in the second part. The latter part of the book deals with interesting ethical issues related to scientific research and its production in general.