Applied Cryptography

 

Text Book

 

Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms, and Source Code in C, 2nd Edition
by Bruce Schneier. Link to Amazon. 

Course Outline

Cryptographic protocols allow a group of people to communicate, plot, and perform intensively complex tasks even if there is no trust amongst them. Such protocols allow the creation of unforgeable electronic documents (via digital signatures), the creation of electronic checks (that cannot be copied), the ability to do all or nothing disclosures (“I will tell you only if you tell me”) and a plethora of such important functions; all the way up to digital cash (untraceable, unforgeable electronic currency). Cryptographic protocols are incredibly important in today’s wired world. Use of cryptography allows trusted communications trusted electronic commerce and prevention of fraud on the Internet community.

The course covers three major topics: Cryptographic Algorithms, Cryptographic Protocols and Cryptographic Techniques. The algorithms embody the art of encryption. The cryptographic protocols will expose the audience to the fascinating world of building trust on untrusted relationships. And finally the Cryptographic Techniques will discuss the methodology used in key management and algorithm choice.

1.       Introduction

·         What is Cryptography?

·         Encryption and Cryptoanalysis

·         Steganograpy

·         Basic protocols and techniques

2.       Basic Cryptographic Algorithms 

·         Encryption schemes

·         Random numbers

·         Security of encryption methods

·         Public Key encryption

3.       Basic Cryptographic Protocols

·         Key Exchange

·         Authentication

·         Secret Sharing

·         Digital Signatures

4.       Intermediate Protocols

·         Timestamping services

·         Subliminal Channels

·         Undeniable signatures

·         Bit commitment

·         Coin flipping on the telephone

·         All or nothing disclosure of secrets

5.       Advanced Protocols

·         Zero Knowledge Proofs

·         Digital Certified Mail

·         Elections

·         Digital Cash

6.       Cryptographic Techniques

·         DES

·         RSA

·         DSA 

·         Key Management

·         Compromised key handling

7.       The Real World

·         Commonly used software

·         The law and Cryptography

·         Politics

Evaluation

Homework, projects, mid-term and final exam.