CS 2950-v: Topics in Applied Cryptography (Fall '17)
Meeting Time: TTh 10:30-11:50
Location: CIT 506
Instructor: Seny Kamara (seny@brown.edu)
Office hours: Th 3:30-5
Prerequisites: CSCI 1660 required; CSCI 1510 strongly recommended.
Syllabus: pdf
Overview
This course surveys recent developments in applied cryptography. It is
structured as a seminar where students present research papers to their peers
and work on a semester-long research project. We will focus on research
motivated by privacy and security issues that arise in practice from areas like
cloud computing, databases, surveillance and finance. Topics will vary each
year.
Though the course is motivated by practical/applied problems, some of the
papers we will study are theoretical in nature. While previous exposure to the
foundations of cryptography (including, e.g., provable security, the simulation
paradigm, reductions) will be helpful, we will cover the necessary theory in
class.
Topics (tentative)
- Encrypted systems
- Blockchains
- Surveillance
Course Materials
There is no textbook required for this course but students may find Introduction to Modern Cryptography by Katz and Lindell helpful to gain familiarity with cryptography. Other recommended (free) resources include Introduction to Modern Cryptography by Bellare and Rogaway and A Course in Cryptography by Pass and Shelat.
Schedule (tentative)
Lecture |
Date |
Topic |
Notes |
Reading |
1 |
Th 09/78 |
Overview |
– |
– |
2 |
Tu 09/12 |
Introduction to Cryptography |
pdf |
– |
3 |
Th 09/14 |
Introduction to Cryptography |
– |
– |