Goal
The goal of this course is to provide insight into cryptography secure against quantum computers (post-quantum cryptography) as well as various methods for the mathematical cryptanalysis of cryptographic systems
Description
Cryptology deals with mathematical techniques for design and analysis of algorithms and protocols for digital security in the presence of malicious adversaries. For example, encryption and digital signatures are used to construct private and authentic communication channels, which are instrumental to secure Internet transactions.
This course in cryptology consists of two main topics.
After a general introduction to cryptography (the constructive side of cryptology) and cryptanalysis, the course covers the design and cryptanalysis of various cryptographic systems that are secure against quantum computers. Especially currently used public-key cryptography such as RSA and ECC are vulnerable to quantum computers and need to be replaced by post-quantum alternatives.
The first part covers symmetric-key cryptographic primitives, such as hash functions and block ciphers, and important attack techniques against them. These remain secure against quantum computers. We then cover the design and analysis of post-quantum public-key cryptography built from these symmetric-key cryptographic primitives.
The second part covers the design and cryptanalysis of important post-quantum public-key cryptography built from mathematical structures, such as lattices and error-correcting codes. This will also include relevant quantum attacks.
Prerequisites
Basics of linear algebra (simple bachelor level), probability theory (simple bachelor level), knowledge of number theory and algebra matching at least
http://www.hyperelliptic.org/
http://www.hyperelliptic.org/
It is recommended but not mandatory to follow a general course in cryptology first, such as the MasterMath course Modern Cryptography, the TU/e course 2MMC10 Cryptology, or the RU course NWI-IBC023 Introduction to Cryptology.
It is also recommended to follow the first chapter of Ronald de Wolf’s lecture notes for the basics of quantum computing: https://homepages.cwi.nl/~
Lecturers
Marc Stevens and Subhasree Patro
Exams
There will be no graded homework assignments but problems for self-study will be handed out.
According to the Mastermath calendar, the written exam is planned for the 11th of June and the retake for the 2nd of July.
In the case of a low number of students, we can opt for oral exams instead. In that case, we are more flexible about the date. The same holds for the retake. Watch the announcement section for updates. In the case of oral exams, each exam will take 30 min and will have Marc and Subhasree both asking some questions. These cover general concepts as well as showing some exam-type exercises and asking the student to explain how they would solve it, without doing any of the computational steps. After the questioning part, they will retreat to discuss the grade and return to the student to announce the grade.
Lecture notes
Will be made available through ELO.
- Docent: Subhasree Patro
- Docent: Marc Stevens