Cryptography (CS 411)

2024 Fall
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Computer Sci.& Eng.(CS)
3
10/6 ECTS (for students admitted in the 2013-14 Academic Year or following years)
Atıl Utku Ay utku.ay@sabanciuniv.edu,
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English
Undergraduate
MATH204
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Programs\Type Required Core Elective Area Elective
Computer Science and Engineering *
Computer Science and Engineering *
Electronics Engineering *
Electronics Engineering *
Materials Science and Nano Engineering *
Materials Science and Nano Engineering (Previous Name: Materials Science and Engineering) *
Mechatronics Engineering *
Mechatronics Engineering *
Microelectronics *
Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering *
Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering (Pre. Name: Biological Sciences and Bioengineering) *
Telecommunications *

CONTENT

This is an introductory course on cryptography. Topics include: Classical cryptosystems, basics of number theory, symmetric key cryptography (stream and block ciphers), hash functions, public key cryptosystems (RSA, discrete logarithm based algorithms, and elliptic curve cryptography (ECC)), digital signatures, implementation issues, secure key establishment techniques, secret sharing, and zero-knowledge proof.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Show a good understanding of security issues in a classical communications scenario.
  • Explain why classical ciphers such as those using mono-or poly alphabetic substitution techniques are weak.
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of introductory number theory pertaining to prime numbers, divisibility, rings, groups, finite fields.
  • Use software libraries for number theory and cryptographic operations and build applications using these libraries.
  • Outline the classic taxonomy of cryptographic algorithms, and give contemporary examples for different classes in the taxonomy
  • Explain the difference between stream ciphers and block ciphers and the difference between symmetric ciphers and asymmetric ciphers, and areas of their usage.
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of block cipher design principles
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of public key cryptosystems
  • Give at least one example for hard problems, on which contemporary cryptographic algorithms are based.
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of security levels provided by different classes of cryptographic algorithms
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of public key certificates and their usage in securing communication channels.
  • Design and implement a simple communication protocol that provides basic security functionality including confidentiality, integrity, authentication, non-repudiation for communicating parties.

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES

1. Understand the world, their country, their society, as well as themselves and have awareness of ethical problems, social rights, values and responsibility to the self and to others. 1

2. Understand different disciplines from natural and social sciences to mathematics and art, and develop interdisciplinary approaches in thinking and practice. 1

3. Think critically, follow innovations and developments in science and technology, demonstrate personal and organizational entrepreneurship and engage in life-long learning in various subjects; have the ability to continue to educate him/herself. 3

4. Communicate effectively in Turkish and English by oral, written, graphical and technological means. 4

5. Take individual and team responsibility, function effectively and respectively as an individual and a member or a leader of a team; and have the skills to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams. 4

1. Possess sufficient knowledge of mathematics, science, fundamental engineering, computational methods and program-specific engineering topics; use theoretical and applied knowledge of these areas in complex engineering problems. 5

2. Identify, define, formulate and solve complex engineering problems while considering the UN Sustainable Development Goals; choose and apply suitable analysis, design, estimation/prediction and modeling methods for this purpose. 5

3. Develop, choose and use modern techniques and tools that are needed for analysis and solution of complex problems faced in engineering applications; use information technologies effectively. 5

4. Have the ability to design a complex system, process, instrument or a product under realistic constraints and conditions, with the goal of fulfilling creative current and future requirements. 5

5. Use research methods, including conducting literature reviews, designing experiments, performing experiments, collecting data, analyzing results, and interpreting results, to investigate complex engineering problems or discipline-specific research topics. 2

6. Possess knowledge of business practices such as project management, risk management, change management, and economic feasibility analysis; awareness on entrepreneurship and innovation. 2

7. Possess knowledge of impact of engineering solutions on society, health and safety, the economy, sustainability, and the environment within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; awareness on legal outcomes of engineering solutions; awareness of acting impartially and inclusively without any form of discrimination; act in accordance with ethical principles, possessing knowledge of professional and ethical responsibilities. 2

8. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, on technical subjects, considering the diverse characteristics of the target audience (such as education, language, and profession). 5

ASSESSMENT METHODS and CRITERIA

  Percentage (%)
Final 40
Midterm 30
Group Project 15
Homework 15