---

This engaging and accessible book presents a set of representative concepts connected by the theme of information security, demonstrating how each allows us to solve real problems. The discussions are supported by many examples and practical exercises.

---

This engaging and accessible text addresses the fundamental question: What Is Computer Science? The book showcases a set of representative concepts broadly connected by the theme of information security, for which the presentation of each topic can be treated as a "mini" lecture course, demonstrating how it allows us to solve real problems, as well as how it relates to other subjects. The discussions are further supported by numerous examples and practical hands-on exercises. Features: presents a concise introduction to the study of algorithms and describes how computers work; introduces the concepts of data compression, and error detection and correction; highlights the role of data structures; explores the topic of web-search; reviews both historic and modern cryptographic schemes, examines how a physical system can leak information and discusses the idea of randomness; investigates the science of steganography; provides additional supplementary material at an associated website.

---

Part I: Foundations of Computer Science
Compressing and Correcting Digital Media
Writing and Comparing Algorithms
Playing Hide-and-Seek with Virus Scanners
How Long is a Piece of String?
Demystifying Web-Search: The Mathematics of PageRank
Part II: Examples from Information Security
Using Short Programs to Make and Break Historical Ciphers
Generation and Testing of Random Numbers
Safety in Numbers: Modern Cryptography from Ancient Arithmetic
Hiding a Needle in a Haystack: Concealed Messages
Picking Digital Pockets

---

From the reviews:
The main audience of this textbook is students (either currently studying subjects related to CS or thinking about enrolling in that area of study) as well as teachers (who might use the book when preparing and developing courses and teaching materials). The book can facilitate independent learning. the book walks its readers through relevant and reasonably detailed examples, providing relatable ideas that will help them grasp these concepts. (Budi Arief, Computing Reviews, May, 2014)

---