CS/ECE/Math 435, Introduction to Cryptography - Fall 2018


Nigel Boston

Contact Information

3619 Engineering Hall, 303 Van Vleck

Telephone: 265-3817, 263-4753.

E-mail: boston@engr.wisc.edu

Homepage

Course Syllabus

Office Hours: M 3-4 in 3619 EH, W 2-3 in 3619 EH, or Th 1:30-2:30 in 303 VV, or by appointment.

Text

Eric Bach's course notes can be picked up at the University Book Store.

Interesting Links

  • Summary of Elliptic Curve Cryptography
  • Security Implications of Using DES (from 2006)
  • Presentation about Solution of Simon Singh's Cipher Challenges
  • Famous Unsolved Codes and Ciphers
  • Comic courtesy of Bill Kay
  • Diaconis article
  • Stick figure guide to AES, courtesy of John Cabaj
  • Vigenere cipher used by Confederacy
  • Magician card trick of Fitch Cheney
  • Article on factoring of RSA-129
  • Twenty years of attacks on the RSA cryptosystem
  • A simple description of blockchain and Bitcoin

    Course objectives

    Familiarity with the major algorithms of historical and modern cryptography as documented in open literature; knowledge of issues involved in choice of algorithm and key size; ability to analyze performance of various cryptographic and cryptanalytic algorithms

    Topics covered

    Sections

    Grading Policy

    Homework Assignments

    Midterms

    Final