ITNT314 : Cryptographic Algorithms and Protocols

Department

Department of Computer Networks

Academic Program

Bachelor in Computer Networks

Type

Compulsory

Credits

03

Prerequisite

ITGS224

Overview

Cryptographic algorithms and protocols form the backbone of numerous security architectures. This course provides an introduction to modern cryptography and communication security. It focuses on how cryptographic algorithms and protocols work and how to use them. The course covers the concepts of block ciphers and message authentication codes, public key encryption, digital signatures, and key establishment, as well as common examples and uses of such schemes, including the AES, RSA-OAEP, and the Digital Signature Algorithm. Basic cryptanalytic techniques and examples of practical security solutions are explored to understand how to design and evaluate modern security solutions.

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge &understand 

  • Familiarize the student with some classical and modern encryption techniques.
  • Familiarize the student with methods used in breaking and analyzing ciphers.
  • Familiarize the student with cryptographic systems and services such as digital signature, data protection and integrity.
  • Familiarize the student with different authentication methods and secure network protocols.

mental skills

  • Distinguishing between secure and unsecure algorithms.
  • Classify the different algorithms and applications of cryptosystems.
  • Criticizing an encryption algorithm and proposes solutions to correct it.
  • Breaking a code and deducing from it the original message.
  • Links what has been studied with the applications available in the field of information and network security.

Practical & professional skills

  • Ability to cryptanalyze a ciphertext of some of the studied algorithms.
  • Encrypt and/or decrypt messages based on the studied algorithms.
  • Evaluating the level of security in a computer system and proposes solutions to improve it.
  • Designing a secure computer system or a secure network.

General and transferable skills

  • Written communication and writing reports.
  • Oral communication by giving presentations.
  • Use IT tools to solve problems.
  • Working in a team to complete a mini project.
  • Performing exams and handing in assignments on time (time management

Teaching and learning methods

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials 
  • Homework
  • Group Presentation

Methods of assessments

  • Midterm exam = 25
  • Homework = 10
  • Group Presentation/Discussion = 15
  • Final exam = 50

Course contents

  • Introduction to cryptography: basic concepts and information security goals
  • Classical encryption methods: symmetric and asymmetric
  • Cryptanalysis of simple symmetric encryption methods
  • Stream Cipher algorithms: A5/1, RC4
  • Block Cipher algorithms: Feistel Cipher, DES, 3DES
  • More Block Cipher algorithms: AES, TEA, RC6, Blowfish, IDEA
  • Modes of operation for block ciphers: ECB CBC, CTR and MAC
  • Public Key cryptography
  • RSA and Diffie-Hellman algorithms
  • Uses for Public Key Crypto
  • Access control: authentication and authorization
  • Physical and biometric authentication methods
  • Simple Authentication Protocols
  • Practical Security Protocols: IPSec, SSL, WEP

Multimedia over IP networks (ITNT405)
Cloud Computing (ITNT404)
Fundamentals ubiquitous computing (ITNT403)
Wireless Sensor Networks (ITNT402)
Personal Area Networks (ITNT401)
Security Policy and Procedures (ITNT304)
Human Computer Interaction (ITNT302)
Modeling and Performance Evaluation (ITNT301)
Arabic language 1 (ITAR111)
General English1 (ITEL111)
Physics (ITPH111)
Intro to Information Technology (ITGS111)
Problem solving Technic (ITGS113)
Mathematics I (ITMM111)
Arabic language 2 (ITAR122)
Mathematics II (ITMM122)
General English2 (ITEL122)
Introduction to Programming (ITGS122)
System Analysis and Design (ITGS124)
logic Circuit Design (ITGS126)
Introduction to Statistics (ITST211)
Object Oriented Programmin (ITGS211)
Introduction to Software Engineering (ITGS213)
Introduction to Networking (ITGS215)
Discrete Structures (ITGS217)
Numerical analysis (ITGS219)
Information Security (ITGS224)
Foundation of Information Systems (ITGS222)
Computer Architucture & Organization (ITGS223)
Introduction to Internet Programming (ITGS226)
Introduction to Databases (ITGS228)
Data Structure (ITGS220)
Design and Analysis algorithms (ITGS301)
Data Communication (ITNT311)
Local Area Networks (ITNT312)
Networks Programming (ITNT313)
Cryptographic Algorithms and Protocols (ITNT314)
Wireless and Mobile Networks (ITNT324)
Operating System (ITGS302)
Digital Communication (ITNT323)
Network Protocols (ITNT322)
Wide Area Networks (ITNT321)
Scientific Writing (ITGS304)
IT Project Management (ITGS303)
Distributed Systems (ITNT411)
Network Design and Management (ITNT412)
Network QoS (ITNT421)
High speed Networks (ITNT422)
Graduation Project (ITNT500)