Xiaojing Liao
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CSCI 420/520 Introduction to Cryptography

​This course is an introduction to the basic theory and practice of cryptographic techniques. Emphasizing on algebraic and number theory approaches, the coverage includes the mathematics that is relevant to the cryptography, the secret key and public key encryption techniques, signature schemes, hash functions and message authentication codes, and key distribution.
Course information
Instructor: ​Xiaojing Liao (xiaojing@wm.edu)
Time: Tuesday, Thursday ​ 3:30 pm - 4:50 pm
Place: Washington Hall 302​
Office hours: Tuesday, Thursday ​ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Piazza: https://piazza.com/wm/spring2018/csci42004/home
Textbook
There is no mandatory textbook.

The following books are recommended to read:
[1] <Introduction to Modern Cryptography, Second Edition> by Jonathan Katz,‎ Yehuda Lindell
[2] <Handbook of Applied Cryptography> by A. Menezes, P. Van Oorschot, S. Vanstone Free online
[3] <Cryptography: Theory and Practice, Third Edition> by Douglas R. Stinson  e-copy in W&M Library
[4] <Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms, and Source Code in C, Second Edition> by Bruce Schneier e-copy in W&M Library  
Week
Date
Agenda
Reading
HW
Week 1
1/18
Course overview
Syllabus
​
/​Chapter 1 in [2] /slides
Week 2
1/23
Modular Arithmetic
Modular arithmetic​/slides
 
1/25
Classical Ciphers 
Chapter 1 in [3]
or Chapter 1.3 in [1]/ slides
Week 3
1/30
Discrete Probability and 
Information Theory
Chapter 2 in [3] / Chapter 2.1 & 2.2 in [2]/slides
pdf/tex
 
2/1
​Information Theoretic Security
​and 
Stream Cipher
<Communication Theory of Secrecy Systems> by Shannon/slides
Week 4
2/6
Block Ciphers
Chapter 7 in [2]/Chapter 3.5 in [3]/slides
 
2/8
Block Ciphers
Chapter 3.6 in [3]/slides
Week 5
2/13
Block Ciphers and
Modes of Operation
Chapter 3.7 in [3]/slides
pdf/tex
 
2/15
Midterm review/
​Computational Complexity 
Chapter 2.3-2.6 in [2]/slides
Week 6
2/20
Midterm 1
 
2/22
Computational Complexity
​and Number Theory
Chapter 5.2 in [3]/slides
Week 7
2/27
No Class (Travel for Conference)
 
 
3/1
No Class (Travel for Conference) 
Week 8
3/6
No Class (Spring Break)
 
3/8
No Class (Spring Break)
Week 9
3/13
RSA Cryptosystem and factoring Integers
Chapter 5.1-5.3 in [3]/slides
 
3/15
RSA Cryptosystem and factoring Integers
Chapter 5.4/5.9 in [3]/slides
pdf/tex
Week 10
3/20
Public Key Cryptosystems based on Discrete Logarithm Problem
Chapter 6.1 in [3]/slides
 
3/22
Public Key Cryptosystems based on Discrete Logarithm Problem
Chapter 6.5 in [3]/slides
Week 11
3/27
Data integrity and Hash function
Midterm 2 (take-home)
Chapter 4.1 in [3]/slides
midterm2
 
3/29
Data integrity and Hash function
Chapter 4.3/slides
HW3 due
Week 12
4/3
Digital signatures
Chapter 7.1 in [3]/slides
 
4/5
Digital signatures
Chapter 7.2, 7.3 in [3]/slides
midterm2
​due
Week 13
4/10
Authenticated Encryption
Chapter 9.1 in [3]/slides
pdf/tex
 
4/12
Authenticated Encryption
Chapter 9.2 in [3]/slides
Week 14
4/17
Key Distribution and Key Agreement
Chapter 10.1 & 11.1 in [3]/slides
HW4 due
 
4/19
Key Distribution and Key Agreement
Chapter 10.5 & 11.2 in [3]/slides
pdf/tex
Week 15
4/24
Final-exam review
slides
 
4/26
Final-exam review and wrap-up
HW5 due
5/7
​2-5pm
Final Exam
(Washington Hall 302​)
 
​Prerequisites
There is no specific prerequisite course for this class, however, a good understanding of basic computer security concepts, computational complexity, probability theory and number theory will be helpful.​
Grading
10% of In-class Quizzes and Class participation; 
25% of Homeworks (around 5); 
35% of In-class Midterm exams (2); 
30% of Final Exam
Bonus 10 points of Optional Course Project
Others
Laptop policy: ​Using laptop/tablets is only allowed to take notes
Academic accommendation: It is the policy of The College of William and Mary to accommodate students with disabilities and qualifying diagnosed conditions in accordance with federal and state laws. Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a learning, psychiatric, physical, or chronic health diagnosis should contact Student Accessibility Services staff at 757-221-2509 or at sas@wm.edu to determine if accommodations are warranted and to obtain an official letter of accommodation. For more information, please click here.
Honor code: Students are required to follow the Honor System of the College of William and Mary
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