2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
COMP3223 Cryptography
10 creditsClass Size: 220
Module manager: Dr Toni Lassila
Email: T.Lassila@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2023/24
Pre-requisites
| COMP1511 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematics |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
This module provides a thorough introduction to cryptography and its applications. We cover the mathematical foundations of cryptography and discuss modern cryptosystems in detail. This includes both symmetric and public-key systems like AES and RSA and their usage and applications in digital signatures and complex cryptographic protocols like digital money and electronic voting.Objectives
On completion of this module, students should be able to:-Know and apply fundamental cryptographic techniques and algorithms.
-Understand and apply the principles of modern symmetric and public-key cryptosystems and further cryptographic primitives such as hash functions.
-Apply appropriate known cryptographic techniques for a given scenario.
-Understand the dangers of inventing one’s own cryptographic methods.
-Explain how key exchange protocols work and how they fail.
-Explain how Public Key Infrastructure supports digital signing and encryption and discuss the limitations/vulnerabilities.
-Discuss the importance of modular arithmetic and prime numbers in cryptography and explain their use in cryptographic algorithms.
-Explain the role of random numbers in security, beyond just cryptography (e.g., password generation, randomized algorithms)
-Describe quantum cryptography and the impact of quantum computing on cryptographic algorithms.
-Describe likely attacker types against a particular system.
-Describe risks to privacy and anonymity in commonly used applications.
-Describe real-world applications of cryptographic primitives and protocols.
-Discuss cryptographic protocols and their properties.
Learning outcomes
1. Understand and apply in practice the fundamental principles of cryptography and information security.
2. Analyse and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of cryptosystems.
3. Apply mathematical analysis to understand how symmetric and asymmetric cryptosystems are constructed.
4. Make appropriate use of the academic literature on cryptography.
5. Understand the future developments of cryptosystems and their security implications and use this information to advise their professional career.
Syllabus
Cryptographic goals. Cryptanalysis of classical ciphers, Modern symmetric cryptosystems: DES, AES and its operation modes.
Mathematical foundations of public-key cryptography: modular arithmetic, Extended Euclidean Algorithm, efficient exponentiation, prime number generation, Chinese Remainder Theorem, Miller-Rabin test.
Public-key cryptography: RSA, Elgamal, Diffie-Hellman key exchange. Digital signatures, Hash functions, Quantum cryptography and the impact of quantum computing.
Different types of attacks, Classification of cryptosystems in terms of security, Cryptographic design principles, Applications and cryptographic protocols: digital money, secure elections
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 22 | 1.00 | 22.00 |
| Tutorial | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
| Private study hours | 68.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 32.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100.00 | ||
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Formative assessment will be provided as part of the two pieces of coursework.Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| In-course Assessment | Exercises | 20.00 |
| In-course Assessment | Exercises | 20.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 40.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2 hr 00 mins | 60.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 60.00 | |
The exam will be a Computer-Based Exam This module will be reassessed by examination only.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 18/05/2023
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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