IY5603 Advanced Cryptography

Second term, optional module.

Module leader

S. Murphy.

Aims

This module follows on from the introductory cryptography module (IC2) and provides the basic mathematical background to cryptography. The emphasis of the module is very much focused on the most widely used cryptographic processes and algorithms.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to understand the role of mathematics in cryptographic systems.

Provisional Syllabus

Block Ciphers: Design criteria, Testing, DES, AES and other algorithms; Assessment of block ciphers; Linear and differential cryptanalysis.

Stream Ciphers: System-theoretic and other approaches, LFSRs, Linear equivalence and other measures of complexity; Combining functions; Nonlinear generators; Correlation attacks.

Asymmetric Cryptosystems: Finite fields, Factoring and discrete logarithms, Prime generation and testing, ElGamal, RSA, Digital signatures, DSS, Elliptic curve cryptography.

Quantum Cryptography and Quantum Computing.

Method of examination

Written examination.

Main references

• A. Menezes, P. van Oorschot, S. Vanstone, Handbook of Applied Cryptography, CRC Press, 1997.
• G.J. Simmons (ed), Contemporary Cryptology, IEEE Press, 1992.
• D. Stinson, Cryptography: Theory and Practice, Capman & Hall/CRC Press, Second edition, 2002.