Introduction to

Cryptography and Security

Mechanisms
2005
Dr Keith Martin
McCrea 349 Tel. 01784 443099
keith.martin@rhul.ac.uk

Why are we
here?
Introduction to Cryptography and Security

This module
Tutorials

The Web

Exercises
Self Study

Library
Forum

Lectures

Maths Class

Study groups

Assignments
Web site

Office hours

Introduction to Cryptography and Security

Module Web Site

www.isg.rhul.ac.uk/msc/teaching/ic2/ic2.shtml

Overview

Notice Board

Schedule

Discussion
Forum
Resources

Exercises

Maths Help

Introduction to Cryptography and Security

Learning Outcomes
Explain exactly what cryptography can be used for.
Appreciate the differences between various types of
cipher system and in which situations they are most
usefully employed.
Identify the issues that need to be addressed when
assessing what types of cryptographic mechanism
are necessary to "secure" an application.
Describe several basic cryptographic mechanisms for
providing each of the core security services.
Identify the limitations of cryptography and how to
support it within a full security architecture.

Introduction to Cryptography and Security

Notice Board
Primary means of communicating with
you outside of lectures
Check this weekly!

Introduction to Cryptography and Security

Schedule
Week 1, 05/10/05: Overview: Part 1 (presented by Fred Piper)
Week 2, 12/10/05: Overview: Part 2 (presented by Fred Piper)
Week 3, 19/10/05: Basic principles (READING WEEK)
Week 4, 26/10/05: Historical algorithms / theoretical vs practical security
Week 5, 02/11/05: Symmetric algorithms
Week 6, 09/11/05: Public key algorithms
Week 7, 16/11/05: Cryptographic services
Week 8, 23/11/05: Digital signatures
Week 9, 30/11/05: Key management (presented by Mick Ganley)
Week 10, 07/12/05: Public key infrastructures
Week 11, 14/12/05: TBA

Introduction to Cryptography and Security

Module Discussion Forum

There is a discussion forum devoted to this
module on the ISG forum site:
www.isg.rhul.ac.uk/forum
Username BB Password ISGforum
Forum IC2/SC02 An Introduction to Cryptography..

You will regularly be directed to post things to

this site
A good use of this area would be to discuss
answers to exercises and post interesting links
and resources
I will visit this forum on a weekly basis
Introduction to Cryptography and Security

Module Tutorials
Two small group tutorials will be held in
Week 4 and Week 9
Tutorials for part-time students will take
place once the Maths Tutorials have
ended
Tasks for these tutorials will be assigned
in the previous weeks lecture
Look out for announcements and details
Introduction to Cryptography and Security

Exercises
Made available on a unit by unit basis
on the module web site from Week 3
onwards.
Solutions to exercises can be posted to
the module discussion forum.

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Assignments
There will be two occasions when you should
hand in solutions to set work for feedback:
Set in Week 4 for handing in Week 5
Set in Week 9 for handing in Week 10

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Office Hours
Thursdays 12.00 13.00
McCrea 349

At other times by appointment

keith.martin@rhul.ac.uk

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Resources
Resource site on the module web site:
Books (there is no comprehensive textbook for this
module)
General resources (portals, tutorials etc)
Resources by unit

Resource are for your further study

You will be directed to particular resources from
time to time

There is only one essential resource:

Fred Piper and Sean Murphy, Cryptography: A Very Short
Introduction (Oxford, 2002)

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Maths Help
Online Mathematics Unit accessible via the
module web site
Password is
Mathematics Tutorial for questions arising
from study of the Online Mathematics Unit
(HLT2 after this lecture)
Mathematics Tutorials begin in Week 2
Please access the Online Mathematics Unit
before coming along to the tutorials
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Week 3
There is no formal lecture in Week 3.
The material for Week 3 (Unit 3: Basic Principles)
has been placed on the web:

http://www.isg.rhul.ac.uk/~pnai166/ic02/unit3/html/1.htm
Username IC2unit3 Password
A link has been placed on the module web site
Require: Internet connection
Preferable: flash, ability to handle rm files
If you have problems contact Amit.Lakhani@rhul.ac.uk

Please post solutions to Exercise 3.1 onto the

module discussion forum
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This module
Tutorials

The Web

Exercises
Self Study

Library
Forum

Lectures

Maths Class

Study groups

Assignments
Web site

Office hours

Introduction to Cryptography and Security

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Four things to do this week

1. Visit the module web site, bookmark it
and make a habit of checking it regularly
2. Work out how to access the module
discussion forum on the Information
Security Forum
3. Access the Online Mathematics Unit and
start to study it (if you need to)
4. Obtain a copy of Piper+Murphy and read
it as soon as you can.

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