Spring 2008: Applied Cryptography and Computer Security

Instructor: Sheng Zhong

Time: 5:00pm-6:20pm Tuesday & Thursday

Office hour: 2:30pm-3:30pm Tuesday & Thursday

Location: 106 Baldy

Important Announcements:

(1)         Class is canceled on April 17, Thursday.

(2)         Final project report is due in class on April 24, Thursday.

Brief Description:

As a crucial part of computer security, cryptography has become increasingly important. However, due to the mathematically complex nature of cryptography, misunderstandings, misuses, and abuses of cryptographic techniques are very common. There is a huge gap between the theory of cryptography and its application.

 

In this course, we study cryptography in a rigorous manner. Our focus is correct application of cryptographic techniques in practical scenarios, rather than the mathematical foundations of these techniques. We stress careful design and analysis of secure systems using existing building blocks. Topics to be covered include private communications (DES, AES, ECB, CBC, RSA, Rabin), identification and authentication techniques (passwords, certificates, SSH, Kerberos), secure protocols (digital cash, Internet auction, electronic voting).

Prerequisites:

Introductory course in theory of computing (e.g., CSE 531 or CSE 596) or permission of the instructor.

 

Course Outline:

¡¤        Security model and cryptographic tools

¡¤        Encryption

o       Block ciphers: DES, AES.

o       Chaining modes: ECB, CBC, CFB, OFB.

o       Public key systems: RSA, Rabin, ElGamal.

¡¤        Message authentication

o       Message Authentication Code (MAC)

o       Digital signatures

¡¤        Entity authentication

o       Tools: passwords, certificates, FFS identification.

o       Systems: IPSec, SSH, Kerberos.

¡¤        Cryptographic protocols

o       Models: knowledge-based security vs. information-based security.

o       Tools: bit commitments, interactive proofs.

o       Applications: digital cash, Internet auctions, electronic voting. 

¡¤        Additional topics (if time allows).

 

Recommended Textbook:

Wenbo Mao, Modern cryptography: theory and practice. Prentice-Hall, PTR.

 

Douglas Stinson, Cryptography: theory and practice. CRC Press.

Grading:

Course grades will be based on problem sets (40%), course project (40%), and class participation (20%).

Lecture Slides:

See here.

Homeworks:

See here.