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The Mceliece Cryptosystem As A Solution To The Post-Quantum Cryptographic Problem, Isaac Hanna Jan 2023

The Mceliece Cryptosystem As A Solution To The Post-Quantum Cryptographic Problem, Isaac Hanna

Senior Honors Theses

The ability to communicate securely across the internet is owing to the security of the RSA cryptosystem, among others. This cryptosystem relies on the difficulty of integer factorization to provide secure communication. Peter Shor’s quantum integer factorization algorithm threatens to upend this. A special case of the hidden subgroup problem, the algorithm provides an exponential speedup in the integer factorization problem, destroying RSA’s security. Robert McEliece’s cryptosystem has been proposed as an alternative. Based upon binary Goppa codes instead of integer factorization, his cryptosystem uses code scrambling and error introduction to hinder decrypting a message without the private key. This …


A Comparison Of Cryptographic Methods, Christopher Gilmore Nov 2022

A Comparison Of Cryptographic Methods, Christopher Gilmore

Senior Honors Theses

While elliptic curve cryptography and quantum cryptography are significantly different branches of cryptography, they provide a suitable reference point for comparison of the value of developing methods used in the present and investing in methods to be used in the future. Elliptic curve cryptography is quite common today, as it is generally secure and efficient. However, as the field of cryptography advances, the value of quantum cryptography’s inherent security from its basic properties should be considered, as a fully realized quantum cryptosystem has the potential to be quite powerful. Ultimately, it is of critical importance to determine the value of …


Codes, Cryptography, And The Mceliece Cryptosystem, Bethany Matsick Jan 2020

Codes, Cryptography, And The Mceliece Cryptosystem, Bethany Matsick

Senior Honors Theses

Over the past several decades, technology has continued to develop at an incredible rate, and the importance of properly securing information has increased significantly. While a variety of encryption schemes currently exist for this purpose, a number of them rely on problems, such as integer factorization, that are not resistant to quantum algorithms. With the reality of quantum computers approaching, it is critical that a quantum-resistant method of protecting information is found. After developing the proper background, we evaluate the potential of the McEliece cryptosystem for use in the post-quantum era by examining families of algebraic geometry codes that allow …


Cryptography: Mathematical Advancements On Cyber Security, Kristin Bower Apr 2019

Cryptography: Mathematical Advancements On Cyber Security, Kristin Bower

Senior Honors Theses

The origin of cryptography, the study of encoding and decoding messages, dates back to ancient times around 1900 BC. The ancient Egyptians enlisted the use of basic encryption techniques to conceal personal information. Eventually, the realm of cryptography grew to include the concealment of more important information, and cryptography quickly became the backbone of cyber security. Many companies today use encryption to protect online data, and the government even uses encryption to conceal confidential information. Mathematics played a huge role in advancing the methods of cryptography. By looking at the math behind the most basic methods to the newest methods …


Quantum Attacks On Modern Cryptography And Post-Quantum Cryptosystems, Zachary Marron Apr 2018

Quantum Attacks On Modern Cryptography And Post-Quantum Cryptosystems, Zachary Marron

Senior Honors Theses

Cryptography is a critical technology in the modern computing industry, but the security of many cryptosystems relies on the difficulty of mathematical problems such as integer factorization and discrete logarithms. Large quantum computers can solve these problems efficiently, enabling the effective cryptanalysis of many common cryptosystems using such algorithms as Shor’s and Grover’s. If data integrity and security are to be preserved in the future, the algorithms that are vulnerable to quantum cryptanalytic techniques must be phased out in favor of quantum-proof cryptosystems. While quantum computer technology is still developing and is not yet capable of breaking commercial encryption, these …