Cryptography

(4 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

The purpose of this module is to introduce the students to the basics of modern symmetric cryptography and to elementary number theory, as required for further study of public-key cryptography. Modern block ciphers and hash functions will be studied in some depth, and modern complex methods of block cipher cryptanalysis (linear and differential) will be covered. Participants will learn to appreciate the significance of cryptography as a means of securing information in the modern world. New ideas and some surprising and novel protocols will be discussed. Students are expected to undertake a difficult assignment, and partake in external reading and study and homework.