Course unit details:
Cryptography
Course unit fact file
Unit code |
COMP61411 |
Credit rating |
15 |
Unit level |
FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
Teaching period(s) |
Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? |
No |
Overview
Cryptography is a vital component of modern electronic security technologies.
Aims
The course aims to give students a good appreciation of cryptographic techniques, as they have arisen historically, and as they are used today.
Learning outcomes
- Comment on the broad principles underlying cryptography and its applications.
- Describe some of the classical cryptographic techniques and their weaknesses.
- Describe the principles of the most widely used private key cryptographic schemes.
- Describe the principles of the most widely used public key key cryptographic schemes.
Syllabus
- Early cryptography: permutations and substitutions, Vignere, Vernam, one time pads, etc.
- Rotor machines: Enigma and its relatives.
- Case study: Marian Rejewski and the breaking of the German Enigma.
- Modern cryptography, secret key: block cyphers, DES, AES, etc.
- Modern cryptography, public key: Diffie-Hellman, RSA, elliptic curves.
- Message authentication, hash functions, digital signatures.
- Quantum cryptography: quantum key distribution in practice.
Employability skills
- Analytical skills
- Problem solving
Assessment methods
Method |
Weight |
Written exam |
70% |
Written assignment (inc essay) |
30% |
Feedback methods
Feedback is provided face to face in the lab, and online for uploaded assessed materials.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours |
Assessment written exam |
2 |
Lectures |
20 |
Practical classes & workshops |
15 |
Independent study hours |
Independent study |
113 |
Teaching staff
Staff member |
Role |
Bernardo Magri |
Unit coordinator |
Richard Banach |
Unit coordinator |
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