Cryptography and Network Security

Unit 1: Fundamentals of Cryptography and Block Ciphers

• Cryptography Basics

  • Objectives of cryptography
  • Security mechanisms and OSI Security Architecture
  • Classical encryption techniques
  • Cipher principles and cryptanalysis
  • Attack models

• Block Ciphers

  • Design principles and modes of operation
  • Feistel cipher structure
  • Data Encryption Standard (DES)
  • International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA)
  • Blowfish and variants of DES
  • Advanced Encryption Standard (AES): Structure, transformation functions, and key expansion

Unit 2: Public Key Cryptography and Key Management

• Public Key Cryptography

  • Asymmetric key cryptography overview
  • RSA algorithm: Computational aspects and security
  • Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)
  • Knapsack Algorithm
  • Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange
  • Man-in-the-Middle attack

• Key Management

  • Key management and distribution techniques
  • Symmetric key distribution using symmetric and asymmetric encryption
  • Public key distribution

Unit 3: Hash Functions and Network Security

• Hash Functions and Message Authentication Codes (MACs)

  • MAC requirements and security
  • MACs based on hash functions
  • Security of hash functions
  • Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA)
  • HMAC

• Digital Signatures

  • Properties, requirements, and security
  • Digital signature schemes (Elgamal and Schnorr)
  • NIST Digital Signature Algorithm

• Network Security

  • Authentication applications: Kerberos, X.509 Authentication Service
  • Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)

Unit 4: IP and System Security

• IP and Web Security

  • IPSec architecture, applications, and benefits
  • IPSec protocols
  • Web security threats
  • Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
  • Secure Electronic Transaction (SET)

• System Level Security

  • Intrusion detection systems (IDS)
  • Viruses and related threats
  • Virus countermeasures
  • Firewall design principles
  • Trusted systems