CSE 546: Cryptography (Spring 2025)


Instructor: Omkant Pandey (Office hours: MW 12:30p onwards, NCS 345)
TA: TBD
Time: MW, 11:00 am - 12:20 pm
Location: FREY HALL 224
Contact: omkant [at] cs stonybrook edu
Important: Do NOT use any other email address to reach out to me regarding the course, and label your email's subject with [CSE 546]. Otherwise your emails may go unnoticed.

Announcements

All announcements will be made through Brightspace.

Course Description

In this class, we will introduce some topics in modern cryptography. The course is theoretical in nature, with emphasis on proofs and algorithmic reductions (even when discussing applied topics).  No prior background in cryptography is assumed. However, students should have some mathematical maturity and be comfortable working with definitions and proofs. Some of the topics we will cover include: one-way functions, pseudo-randomness, symmetric encryption, hash functions, message integrity, digital signatures, and public-key encryption. Time permitting, we may also dive into zero-knowledge proofs and secure multiparty computation.

Grading Policy

Note: Practice problems will be released from time to time depending on students' needs. They will not contribute towards the official grade, and their solutions will be covered upon request during TA's office hours.

Text Book

The prescribed textbook for this course is Katz and Lindell's text Introduction to Modern Cryptography (some copies available in the library). See course webpages for previous offerings of this course for several free and excellent resources and educational material on cryptography.

Lecture Schedule (Tentative)

Date Topic Chapter
01/27/2024 Introduction Ch. 1
01/29/2024 Shannon, Perfect Secrecy Ch. 2
02/03/2024 No Class
02/05/2024 Indistinguishable Security §3.1, §3.2
02/10/2024 Encryption via PRGs §3.3
02/12/2024 CPA-Security via PRFs §3.4,§3.5
02/17/2024 President's Day
02/19/2024 Modes of Encryption §3.6
02/24/2024 Message Authentication Codes Ch. 4
02/26/2024 First Assignment Due, Discuss Solutions
03/03/2024 Hash Functions Ch. 5
03/05/2024 One-Way Functions §7.1+
03/10/2024 Hard Core Predicates §7.3, §7.4
03/12/2024 PRF/PRP from PRGs §7.5, §7.6
03/17/2024 Spring Recess
03/19/2024 Spring Recess
03/24/2024 Number Theory Background §8.1, §8.3.1
03/26/2024 Hardness Assumptions §8.2--§8.4
03/31/2024 Second Assignment Due, Discuss Solutions
04/02/2024 Key Management, Public-Key Revolution Ch. 10
04/07/2024 Public-Key Encryption - I §11.1--§11.4
04/09/2024 Public-Key Encryption - II §11.4, §11.5
04/14/2024 Digital Signatures - I §12.1--§12.4
04/16/2024 Digital Signatures - II §12.5--§12.7
04/21/2024 Trapdoors, Secret Sharing §13.1--§13.3
04/23/2024 Interactive Proofs ---
04/28/2024 Zero Knowledge ---
04/30/2024 Final Assignment Due, Discuss Solutions
05/05/2024 Student Presentations ---
05/07/2024 Student Presentations ---
05/16/2024 Final, 11:15 am - 1:45 pm, In class (Frey 224) Registrar schedule

Student Accessibility Support Center Statement

If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact the Student Accessibility Support Center, Stony Brook Union Suite 107, (631) 632-6748, or at sasc@stonybrook.edu. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

Academic Integrity Statement

Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty is required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center (School of Health Technology & Management, Nursing, Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/academic_integrity/index.html

Critical Incident Management

Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of University Community Standards any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn. Faculty in the HSC Schools and the School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. Further information about most academic matters can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin, the Undergraduate Class Schedule, and the Faculty-Employee Handbook.