Cryptography

Cryptography is an algorithm used for secure communication in the presence of third parties through encryption and decryption. It is a common method which enables users to store private or sensitive information transmits across an insecure network, like internet. In this case, it is suggested to use for protecting and guarding the UPS official website information transaction of the between UPS and its customers.

In encryption process, the original or ordinary information (Plaintext) is converted into an unintelligible text (Ciphertext) that only the authorized parties with the key are able to read. The authorized parties perform decryption by reversing the process of encryption which converts the Ciphertext back into Plaintext with the key that given by the originator.

As both UPS and its customers can take part in being information sender or receiver, the public key and private key holder can be interchanged. Symmetric Cryptography is suggested for the ease of implementation as symmetric-key cryptography makes encryption which both the sender and receiver share the same key.

Besides, a message authentication code (MAC) can be implied to provide integrity and authenticity assurances on the message. Integrity assurances detect accidental and intentional message changes, while authenticity assurances affirm the message's origin. Integrity assurances detect accidental and intentional message changes, while authenticity assurances affirm the message's origin. UPS and customers can only receive and read the accurate and valid information without any deliberate changes by allowing verifiers (who also possess the secret key) to detect any changes to the message content.

The above cryptography techniques can be used at the point where UPS sends out the invoice note or updates order details and customers modify or track the order reference.