CMSC-691g Internet Security: Assignments (Spring 1996)
Each student is expected to come to each class prepared to discuss the
assigned papers critically. The major written assignment is to carry
out an original research project related to any theme of the course.
In addition, there will be a small number of directed written
assignments.
Homework 1
Prepare an instructive numerical example illustrating key selection
and encryption using the RSA cryptosystem. Show and explain all
calculations by hand, including but not restricted to the calculation
of the encryption and decryption keys. Be sure that your example is
free of any blatant misleading unusual properties (such as equal
encryption and decryption exponents), and that the encryption exponent
is composite. Write in complete sentences, in a style suitable for
use in an encyclopedia for non-mathematicians. Check your
work using a computer. Due: April 1, 1996.
Homework 2
Build a www homepage for your work on this course. The purpose is to
help you and others organize and gain easy access to useful
information relating to any and all aspects of this course. Be
creative. The instructor will check your page during the first week
of every month of the course; the final page is due on May 15, 1996.
Project
As the major course activity, each student must carry out and
present a term project.
- Purpose: To investigate deeply a focused topic
relating to the course, and to develop research skills in cryptology
and its applications.
- Overview: Each student will identify one (or possibly
more) significant research paper relating to any aspect of the course.
The student will read, understand, present, and try to extend
this paper.
- Deliverables:
written and oral progress report (due Wednesday March 13),
abstract and draft report (due Monday, April 22),
oral presentation of project to class (to be scheduled), and
written project report in the form of a
technical report (Monday May 8).
Written Progress Report
The written progress report may take any form, but must
include the following information:
- Title of project
- Date
- Author name and affiliation
- List of keywords (for indexing purposes).
- Identification of the paper (or papers) on which your project
will be based, and copy of the paper.
- Brief description of what you plan to do,
why your project is significant, and
how you plan to do it.
- Clear and concise description of what will be novel
about your work (in what way will you extend the paper
you are studying?).
- Brief description of what you have done, and what remains
to be done
- Brief description of any difficulties you expect
to encounter, and how you plan to
overcome these problems.
- Bibliography (list of all sources on which you will base your work)
- Realistic schedule for completing your project.
Project Abstract and Draft Report
- Informative abstract of approximately 250 words concretely
summarizing your main findings.
- Draft report of approximately five pages or more, including
complete outline, introduction, preliminary findings, bibliography,
and copy of main paper(s) on which your project is based.