LEARNING OUTCOMES
Having completed the course, you understand the security that commonly used cryptographic primitives provide as well as their limits. You can read and understand security definitions of cryptographic building blocks and are able to judge whether a cryptographic building block is suitable for use in a particular application, and you can assess security models for applications critically. You can construct reductions between cryptographic primitives and recognize whether small modifications to a cryptographic primitive compromise their security.
Credits: 5
Schedule: 04.09.2023 - 30.11.2023
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Chris Brzuska, Russell W. F. Lai
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):
Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):
Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
valid for whole curriculum period:
We introduce cryptographic security models and concepts and understand the relations between them. We then apply the learnt concepts and techniques to real-world problems. In particular, we cover:
- Pseudorandom functions/ciphers
- symmetric encryption
- asymmetric encryption
- message authentication codes
- signature schemes
- selected advanced cryptographic primitives (might depend on the course instance), e.g., fully homomorphic encryption, cryptographic obfuscation, indistinguishability obfuscation
- selected applications (might depend on the course instance), e.g., secure communication, attacks on TLS, secure distributed computation
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
The course is pass/fail, and to pass, one is required to collect a certain amount of participation points (for the exact thresholds for each teaching period and overall course, see MyCourses page of the course instance in question).
Participation points are primarily obtained via submitting solutions to weekly exercises (there is no exam), and it is possible to pass the course by only submitting exercises.
In some course instances, there might be additional ways to obtain participation points. See MyCourses page of the course instance in question for details.
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
Lectures 24 h (16 90-minutes sessions),
Teaching in small groups 24h (16 90-minutes sessions),
Weekly written exercises 40 h (10 assignments)
DETAILS
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
4 Quality Education
8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10 Reduced Inequality
11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
13 Climate Action
16 Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
The course is suitable for advanced bachelor degree students, given that they have the relevant pre-requisits. We recommend the course especially for those interested in a bachelor thesis in the area of cryptography.
In case of doubt, please contact the responsible teacher (preferably before the course starts), and include a transcript of your current studies in addition to your own assessment whether you think you have the relevant pre-requisits and which relevant knowledge you have, whether acquired in formal courses or otherwise (a brief paragraph, 5-6 sentences). You can send a message at a low threshold before the course starts for determining whether you have the required pre-requisits, we are happy to help by giving a second opinion.
Teaching Language : English
Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Autumn I - II
2023-2024 Autumn I - IIEnrollment :
Registration for courses will take place on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi).