Course objectives

Topics covered

• Classical cryptography: substitution ciphers, polyalphabetic methods, etc.
• Introduction to cryptanalysis: frequency counts, coincidence index, Shannon's theory
• Block ciphers (DES, IDEA, AES, etc.)
• Public-key cryptography (modular arithmetic, systems based on factoring and discrete logarithms)
• Cryptographic protocols (key exchange methods, digital signatures, secret sharing, authentication)

Sections

• Main Lecture: MWF, 11:00-11:50, 1227 Engineering Hall.

Grading Policy

The HW will be worth 10%, each midterm 20%, and the final 50% of your grade. If you score 90% or higher, you will get an A; if you score 80% or higher, you will at least get a B; if you score 70% or higher, you will at least get a C; if you score 60% or higher, you will at least get a D.

Homework Assignments

Homework will be set most Fridays and due the following Friday. You are encouraged to discuss the exercises with your classmates but the work you hand in should be your own. The following tables may be of help to you:
• Addition and Multiplication mod 26
• Helpful Statistical Information for Cryptograms
• 1st Homework, due Feb 6.
• 2nd Homework, due Feb 13.
• 3rd Homework, due Feb 20.
• 4th Homework, due Feb 27.
• 5th Homework, due Mar 13.
• 6th Homework, due Mar 20.
• 7th Homework, due Mar 27.
• 8th Homework, due Apr 17.
• 9th Homework, due May 1.
• 10th Homework, due May 8.

Midterms

Friday, March 6, and Friday, April 24, at 11:00am in 1800 EH
• Practice 1st Midterm, no.1
• Practice 1st Midterm, no.2
• Practice 1st Midterm, no.3
• Practice 2nd Midterm, no.1
• Practice 2nd Midterm, no.2
• Practice 2nd Midterm, no.3

Final

• Final - 7:25pm, May 14. Psychology 113.
• Practice Final, no.1
• Practice Final, no.2
• Practice Final, no.3
• Practice Final, no.4
• Practice Final, no.5