Here's my PGP public key --- CB.

CSC 290: Cryptology 2002 Term Project

You can do a programming project or a research project. In any case the results should be reported in a TR-style report, handed in through our WebCT interface as a .pdf file. Programming projects should have source code, readme, documentation, and possibly a running demonstration if that is relevant, as usual.

Don't forget the Homework Helper page.

Your work will not be taking place in an intellectual vacuum. You must place it in its intellectual and historical context with adequate references to the published literature. For this class all references must be to published, printed works (e.g. journal papers or books). You can use the web all you want to find references, but no citations of web pages are acceptable as refernces.

Procedure: Write a 1-page project proposal and get it to Prof. Brown by the indicated due date. You'll get red, green, or yellow light from him. Red light is big problems, yellow light means some modifications, green means go ahead. Red or yellow obviously mean to meet with Prof. Brown as soon as possible.

Feel free to consult with the prof on strategy, technical issue, ideas for sources or resources, whatver. Use any other resources you want, but keep in mind the academic honesty guidelines. Turn in project on due date.

Obviously sources like the sci.crypt, Cryptologia Journal, the Crypto-Gram, Kahn's book, Schneier's book, etc. etc. are abundant sources of material and ideas. See the course related links page for these pointers.

Here are some Previous student projects .

Here are some not-terribly original or surprising ideas for research projects:

Classical Cryptography

Breaking the Enigma Cryptosystem. This is possible, and in fact was a class assignment in this course in 2002. Prof. brown has a helpful article if you want to pursue this.
Famous old ciphers that have not been broken
Make software to break transposition ciphers, like Nihilist.
Make a system to break Playfair-type ciphers
Solve a longstanding bit-scramble cipher that has been frustrating Prof. Brown for 30 years. There is work by a previous student to help get you started.
Decrypt a rather mysterious set of Diplomatic Ciphers . This project was attempted by a previous student, whose work Prof. Brown can make available to you (also some of his own).
Singh's Cipher Challenge. Presuming the solution to this (Singh p. 351ff.) is not out there somewhere, this would be a good project... how far can you get?

Modern Cryptology

Do a Steganography system. A previous student has done a project on this topic. Prof. Brown can show you if interested.
In particular, understand and try to crack UR Prof. Murat Tekalp's "AuthentImage" algorithm. If interested, see CB: this sounds like a fun project to him.
Write a key escrow system using PK cryptography.
Write the history of the Dimitry Sklyarov story (arrested for presenting a paper on how to get around music encoding). Good place to start is Crypto-Gram of 15 August 01.
Write a history and summary of cryptographic challenge problems and contests and their winners and the solutions.
Implement mini-DES (ask C. Brown for the algorithm) and attack it with differential cryptalysis. Use this example to explain diff. crypt.
Breaking the Merkle-Hellman Knapsack System
The Chor-Rivest Knapsack System
The McEliece Elliptic Curves System
What is CAST and how does it work?
Quantum Computing
Zero-knowledge Proofs
Clipper Chip and Key Escrow

Computer Security

Firewalls
Security in Linux
Viruses and Worms

Here is a pointer to a boatload of possible Programming Projects .

This page is maintained by CB.

Last update: 29.07.01.