I am currently taking an online course in Cryptography and I’m learning a lot about the nuts and bolts of modern encryption, especially the standards, how to write proofs, and other elegant details about encryption that we all use everyday without thinking about it.

In taking this course I am learning about all kinds of concepts and standards which are relayed using the nerd’s favorite form of communication: the acronym! I have learned about PRPs, PRFs, AES, TSL, SSL, RSA, MAC, and a host of many other acronyms, some of which I have to remind myself about, especially when I forget what exactly a CCA is! (As contrasted with a CPA. Yes, these are all real things in cryptography, I am not making them up!)

Acronyms run rampant in the software and nerd world, so if you want to make yourself look like a totally geeked out software nerd, (Even if you totally aren’t,) just take a friend and go to where a whole bunch of techies are hanging out and start throwing around acronyms in a conversation that sounds really technical.

“We are trying to decide if we want to use DSM or GHP for the new KLX.”
“What about JPY? Why wouldn’t you use that along with you SSNL?”
“Because we switched over to STA after we installed QMN.”
“Right! Instead of IKL with ARS!”

The nerdlings who overhear you will believe you are talking about standards and technology that they aren’t aware of yet. It also helps if you act all puffy and self-assured when you’re throwing your acronyms about. Just make them up on the fly! People will think you’re hardcore nerds!

(There’s also always the chance that you will inadvertently make up an acronym that really is related to actual technology. I may have just done that up there!)

(Of course if you really want to sound like “hardcore” nerds you could always say things like “We need to install RKL for our DRI since we’re using JFA!” Street cred for people who know what I’m talking about!)

A screenshot from one of my course’s lectures!