Overview
This course covers modern cryptography with a focus on symmetric-key and public-key primitives, security models, basic number theory, and proofs. Applications include authenticated encryption, signatures, zero-knowledge proof, and selected protocols.
Textbooks: Boneh & Shoup: A Graduate Course in Applied Cryptography, Katz & Lindell: Introduction to Modern Cryptography (3nd Ed.)
Course Schedule (Tentative)
Each week has two classes: Tuesday and Thursday. Dates are MM.DD.
| Week | Tue (MM.DD) | Tuesday Topic | Thursday Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.26 | Introduction and background on cryptography | One-time pad, information-theoretic security |
| 2 | 9.2 | Stream ciphers, PRG | Pseudorandomness, CPA |
| 3 | 9.9 | Block ciphers; DES and attacks, AES | PRP, PRF, block ciphers from PRG |
| 4 | 9.16 | One-time key vs. many-time key; modes of operation | Padding-oracle attacks |
| 5 | 9.23 | Message Authentication Codes (MAC) | Generic birthday attack, cryptographic hash |
| 6 | 9.3 | Merkle–Damgård paradigm; Merkle hash tree | HMAC, authenticated encryption |
| 7 | 10.7 | Midterm | First presentation |
| 8 | 10.14 | Number theory | Diffie–Hellman key exchange |
| 9 | 10.21 | Trapdoor permutations; public-key encryption | RSA-based public-key encryption |
| 10 | 10.28 | Discrete-log–based public-key encryption | Digital signatures |
| 11 | 11.4 | RSA signature and BLS signature | One-way functions, Lamport signature |
| 12 | 11.11 | Blind signatures | Multi-party computation (MPC) |
| 13 | 11.18 | Zero-knowledge proof | Indistinguishability obfuscation |
| 14 | 11.25 | Fall Break | — |
| 15 | 12.2 | Presentation | Final exam review |
Policies
Grading: In-class quiz 10%, Homework assignments 50%, Midterm 20%, Final20%. The course will include five homework assignments. Each homework will include careful instructions, with long-form problem write-ups and proofs. Use of AI-based tools is NOT allowed.
Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty is a serious offense. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Student Code is considered a part of this syllabus. If you are ever in doubt of what constitutes plagiarism or cheating, do not hesitate to ask me.
Disability Accommodations: To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible. To contact DRES you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603 (V/TTY), or e-mail a message to disability@illinois.edu.