Cryptography, 4003-482-02, Spring 2012/13

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to cryptography and its relation to security. It covers classical cryptosystems, private-key cryptosystems (including DES and AES), and public-key cryptosystems (including RSA). The course also provides an introduction to integrity and authentication.

Course Outcomes

Students will be able to implement and cryptanalyze classical ciphers.
Students should demonstrate a basic understanding of modern private-key cryptosystems and ways to cryptanalyze them.
Students should demonstrate a basic understanding of modern public-key cryptosystems and ways to cryptanalyze them.
Students should demonstrate a basic understanding of the mathematical concepts underlying modern cryptography.
Students should demonstrate a broad understanding of the field of cryptography and its relation to security.

Course Web Page

http://www.cs.rit.edu/~ib/Classes/CS482_Spring12-13/index.html

Instructor

Ivona Bezakova
bldg. ACMT, room 42
Email: my_initials at cs.rit.edu (please replace my_initials by ib)

Office hours (tentative)

Monday/Wednesday 16:00-17:00
Tuesday/Thursday 13:00-14:00

Lectures

Monday/Wednesday, 14:00-15:50, room 11 (ACMT).
Make-up classes: April 1 and May 1 are holidays in Croatia (Easter Monday and Labor Day, respectively). We will make up these classes on Thursday of the same week: April 4 and May 2, at the same time as usual (rooms TBA).

Required Book

Trappe and Washington, Introduction to Cryptography with Coding Theory, second edition, Prentice-Hall, 2006.

Other Materials

Slides from class and other related materials will be posted at the reading and homework assignments webpage.

Prerequisites

CS4 (4003-334) and Discrete Math (1016-265).

The Work

Homework Assignments

There are eight homework assignments, one per week except for the first week and the week of the midterm. Each homework assignment will be collected and graded. Homework assignments are due on Wednesday at 2pm, and are usually posted at least six days before they are due. The actual assignments will be available on the reading and homework assignments page.

Unless it is specifically stated otherwise, you may work on and submit your homework alone or as a pair. If you choose to work as a pair, both of you should contribute significantly to every part of the homework. You should submit only one copy of the homework with both your names on it.

Whether you submit on your own or with a partner, discussing the homework assignments and solution strategies with your classmates is encouraged. However, the actual solutions should be completely your own. You are also not allowed to look up the answers to your homework and you should be able to explain all of your homework to the instructor.

No late assignments will be accepted. The lowest two homework assignments will be dropped. However, a zero for cheating will not be dropped.

Midterm Exam

The midterm exam is scheduled for Monday, April 8, 14:00-15:50, in class.

Final Exam

The final exam is scheduled for TBA.

Exams can not be made up except for real emergencies in which case proper documentation (like a doctor's note) will be required or if you can not take an exam because of religious reasons. If at all possible, you should contact me prior to the exam. Oversleeping, cars that don't start etc. do not constitute a valid excuse.

Evaluation

50% Homeworks and the best of
- 25% Midterm and 25% Final Exam or
- 20% Midterm and 30% Final Exam.

Numerical grades will be converted to letter grades according to the following scale:
> 88%: A; 77%-88%: B; 66%-77%: C; 55%-66%: D; < 55%: F. However, your final grade will never be more than one letter grade higher than your (weighted) average exam grade. In addition, if your (weighted) average exam grade is below 55%, you fail the course.

Disputing Your Grade

If you feel that an error was made in grading your homework or exam, you have one week from the moment the graded work was handed back to dispute your grade.

Students with Disabilities

RIT is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. If you would like to request accommodations such as special seating or testing modifications due to a disability, please contact the Disability Services Office. It is located in the Student Alumni Union, Room 1150; the Web site is http://www.rit.edu/dso. After you receive accommodation approval, it is imperative that you see me during office hours so that we can work out whatever arrangement is necessary.

Academic Honesty

The DCS Policy on Academic Honesty will be enforced.

You should only submit work that is completely your own. Failure to do so counts as academic dishonesty and so does being the source of such work. Submitting work that is in large part not completely your own work is a flagrant violation of basic ethical behavior and will minimally be punished with failing the course.