Applied Cryptography

Applied cryptography spans many disciplines including computer systems, computation, mathematics, and law. This course aims to teach students both the foundations of cryptography and the humility of building practical cryptographic systems. Topics include fundamentals of cryptography, applications, attacks, and theory. The class will draw on material from public key cryptography, number theory, usable security, hash functions, symmetric cryptography, RFID security, secure storage, cryptographic protocols, electronic voting, law, theoretical notions of security, and cryptographic attacks. Students will be evaluated based on final group projects, class participation, problem sets with hands-on labs, scribe notes, and quizzes.

Applied Cryptography is part of the undergraduate security concentration.