Objectives:

The course gives an introduction to cryptanalysis, which is a part of cryptology. Basic cryptanalytic attacks against symmetric ciphers are discussed. After the course the successful students should be able to identify some weaknesses in symmetric cipher primitives and explain mathematical foundation of their security.

Content:

The course contains three chapters. Historical ciphers chapter deals with the analysis of various substitution and transposition ciphers, Hagelin cipher, GSchriber, and at-depth-cryptanalysis. Stream ciphers part contains attacks based on Berlekamp-Massey algorithm, correlation and algebraic attacks, 2-adic cryptanalysis. Block cipher chapter explains meet-in-the-middle attacks and linear cryptanalysis.

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student knows

• basic algebra and probability theory applications in cryptanalysis
• how basic cryptanalytic attacks work

Skills

The student is able to

• explain the mathematical foundation of the security of ciphers
• digest and explain how cryptographic primitive work
• implement basic cryptanalytic attacks

General competence

The student

• is familiar with new ideas and innovation processes
• can exchange opinions with others with a relevant background and participate in discussions concerning the development of good practice

The teaching comprises of lectures and group exercises

Lectures: 4 hours pr. week for 16 weeks

Group exercises: 2 hours pr. week for 15 weeks

• compulsory exercise counts for 30% of total grade.
• Written examination (4 hours) counts for 70% of total grade.

Student adviser:

mailto:studieveileder@ii.uib.nomailto:studieveileder@ii.uib.noStudent adviser

T: 55 58 42 00