6 ECTS credits
150 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4020548ENR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.
This course provides an introduction to cryptography - from the past over the present to the future. We treat the basis building blocks of cryptography with the underlying mathematical concepts and theory. Thereafter, we combine these techniques into systems we encounter in our daily life so that the importance and applications of mathematics become apparant. Along the way, we gather insights in the current technologies in the field of security and identify their pros and cons. The student learns to reason about how the cons could be improved in the future.
Practical examples are treated in the exercise classes using a problem solving methodology.
By means of a project, the student is introduced to cryptographic aspects not yet treated in the course. Thereafter the student writes a paper on the underlying mathematical concepts and gives a presentation to his fellow students explaining his topic.
Table of contents:
1. Introduction
2. Basis concepts
3. Symmetric cryptosystems
4. Public Key cryptosystems
5. Hash functions
6. Digital signatures and Identification
7. Complementing Crypto: Digital Watermarking
8. Projects
The slides can be found at http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~andooms under Education.
Johanes A. Buchmann, Introduction to Cryptography, Springer, 2000.
Richard Mollin, Codes: The Guide to Secrecy From Ancient to Modern Times, Chapman & Hall, 2005.
Alfred J. Menezes, Paul C. van Oorschot and Scott A. Vanstone, Handbook of Applied Cryptography, CRC Press, 1996.
Simon Singh, The Code Book, Harper Collins Publishers, 2002.
This course is an introduction to cryptography in the past until now and the future. We cover the basis building blocks of cryptography founded with the necessary mathematical tools. Hereafter we combine these techniques in systems we encounter in every day life. As such one learns to appreciate the importance and applications of mathematics. In this way one develops insight in the recent technologies and is it possible to identify its pros and cons. We end by reasoning on how to overcome the cons in the future.
Practical examples are handled in detail during the exercise classes in a problem solving way.
By means of a project one encounters some aspects not covered in the course and one needs to identify which mathematical techniques are needed. Then the student communicates in a clear way with a lecture on his subject to his fellow students.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
Written Exam determines 40% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 10% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Oral exam with written preparation about the theory and exercises (50% = 25% theory + 25% exercises) and project work (50% = 40% written text and 10% presentation).
A student can only pass for this course if he/she participates in all the parts of the exam.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Mathematics: Financial and Applied Mathematics (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Mathematics: Fundamental Mathematics (only offered in Dutch)