Welcome to Cryptography and Information Theory! This course combines cryptography (the techniques for protecting information from unauthorized access) and information theory (the study of information coding and transfer). More specifically, the course studies cryptography from the information-theoretical perspectives and discuss the concepts such as entropy and the attacker knowledge capabilities, e.g., Kerckhoff's Principle. It also contrasts information-theoretic security and computational security to highlight the different train of thoughts that drive the cryptographic algorithmic construction and the security analyses. This course is a part of the Applied Cryptography specialization.
This course is part of the Applied Cryptography Specialization
Cryptography and Information Theory
Offered By
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
12 hours to complete
Cryptography Overview
This module defines the technical terms in cryptography and introduce Alice, Bob, and Eve. To study the attacker Eve's perspective, we will describe Kerckhoff's Principle ("the attacker knows the system"), which defines the scope of the attacker knowledge (what is secret vs. what the attacker can know). We will also describe Security by Obscurity, which contrasts Kerckhoff's Principle.
8 videos (Total 19 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
8 videos
Cryptography Terminology2m
Threat Model and the Attacker Knowledge1m
Kerckhoff's Principle3m
Security by Obscurity and Steganography, Part 12m
Security by Obscurity and Steganography, Part 21m
1 reading
Slides for Cryptography Overview20m
1 practice exercise
Kerckhoff's Principle and Security by Obscurity30m
Week
22 hours to complete
Information Entropy
This module studies information entropy to quantify randomness. Information entropy can be used to measure the strength of the key or the secret information that determines the security of a cryptosystem against an attacker who does not know the random key.
6 videos (Total 44 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
6 videos
Entropy: Uniform Distribution Case9m
Entropy: General Distribution Case13m
Entropy Recap9m
1 reading
Slides for Information Entropy20m
2 practice exercises
Throwing a Dice15m
Entropy: Balls in a Bin35m
Week
31 hour to complete
Brute-Force Attack and Cryptanalysis
This module studies the attacker view whose objective is to learn the key and break the cryptographic protection using the key. First, we will define brute force attack and describe how to quantify the attacker effort for brute force attack. Next, we will contrast cryptanalysis and brute force attack. Lastly, we will discuss about perfect secrecy, which is immune to cryptanalysis and is a strong notion of security derived from information theory.
4 videos (Total 13 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
1 reading
Lecture Slides for Brute Force and Cryptanalysis20m
1 practice exercise
Brute-Force Attack, Cryptanalysis, and One-Time Pad30m
Week
42 hours to complete
Computational Security and Side-Channel Attack
This module studies cryptography from the practical point of view. We will first define computational security, which relies on the fact that real world attackers are computationally limited unlike information theoretic security, e.g., one-time pad. We will then survey side channel attacks and unintentional information leakage from the physical implementations of cryptosystems.
3 videos (Total 12 min), 2 readings
2 readings
Lecture Slides for Computational Security and Side Channel Attacks20m
Reading on physical side-channel attacks1h 10m
4.4
15 Reviews20%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top reviews from Cryptography and Information Theory
A very neat and easy to follow course that introduces the basic concepts of cryptography and its use in modern world!
The course mainly covers criteria for security. I need more of cryptography in it. Its not completely useful.
Instructor
Sang-Yoon Chang
Assistant ProfessorComputer Science
About University of Colorado System
The University of Colorado is a recognized leader in higher education on the national and global stage. We collaborate to meet the diverse needs of our students and communities. We promote innovation, encourage discovery and support the extension of knowledge in ways unique to the state of Colorado and beyond.
About the Applied Cryptography Specialization
This specialization is intended for the learners interested in or already pursuing a career in computer security or other cybersecurity-related fields. Through four courses, the learners will cover the security of information systems, information entropy, classical cryptographic algorithms, symmetric cryptography, asymmetric/public-key cryptography, hash functions, message authentication codes, digital signatures, key management and distribution, and other fundamental cryptographic primitives and protocols.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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