4.5-4.8, due on September 23

• Since having DES explained in class, I understand a little bit better the XOR thing as well as the method of reading the diagrams in the book. One thing I'm still a little shady on is all the different "modes" that were discussed in this section of the reading. I'm understanding how to follow the algorithms in the book, but I'm still on clear on what each "mode" does. They are obviously for multiple cases and instances, but I'm not seeing what each is used for.
• When we talk about attacks in plain english, it helps. :) Talking about ciphers in code is a little foreign to me until its explained, but talking about it in sentences helps me to understand it. I remember talking about the breaking of the DES code, but it was cool to actually read the history and what exactly happened in exactly how much time.