Cryptography is used to protect information from unauthorized access by encrypting data. It involves the use of algorithms and keys to encrypt plain text into cipher text. There are two main types: symmetric cryptography which uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt, and asymmetric cryptography which uses a public/private key pair. Cryptography is applied in technologies like digital certificates, RSA, SSL, and digital signatures to securely transmit data, verify identities, and ensure integrity of communications.