Course info

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/tanja/teaching/cryptoI13/nt.pdf and
http://www.hyperelliptic.org/tanja/teaching/CCI11/online-ff.pdf.

It is recommended but not mandatory to follow a general course in cryptology
first, such as the 2022 Modern Cryptology course in MasterMath, the 2021
Introduction to Cryptology course in MasterMath, the Cryptology course in Mastermath
(prior to 2021), the TU/e course 2MMC10 Cryptology, or the RU course
NWI-IBC023 Introduction to Cryptology.

Aim of the course
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.
The first part focuses on cryptanalysis, the analysis of the security of cryptographic systems.
The second part focuses on post-quantum cryptography dealing with cryptographic
systems that are secure even given the existence of quantum computers.

After a brief introduction to cryptography (the constructive side of cryptology) the first part will cover various generic attacks against common cryptographic primitives (e.g., block ciphers, hash functions) and cover important cryptanalytic attack techniques like time-memory tradeoffs, linear cryptanalysis, differential cryptanalysis and algebraic cryptanalysis.
The second part of the course introduces the main contenders for post-quantum systems based on error-correcting codes, hash functions, isogenies, lattices, or systems of multivariate equations. These systems are examples of public-key systems and this is the main area affected by quantum computers; symmetric-key systems (such as hash functions and block and stream ciphers) are used as building blocks inside them and for the transmission of data in bulk.

Lecturers
Tanja Lange (TU/e) and Marc Stevens (CWI).

The course pages are

https://homepages.cwi.nl/~stevens/mastermath/2023/

https://hyperelliptic.org/tanja/teaching/pqcrypto23/