Module: Cryptography & Security Protocols

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Cryptography & Security Protocols
Module Code	CSC1100 (ITS: CA4005)
Faculty	Engineering & Computing	School	Computing
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

The purpose of this module is to introduce the student to some of the latest ideas, algorithms and protocols from modern cryptology and secure communications, and to equip the student to apply this theory to the problems of building secure computer applications, and securing communications in the context of the internet and e-commerce. Modern symmetric cryptography techniques, hash functions and their applications are covered. Then, based on the students prior experience of elementary arithmetic, the basics of number theory are taught, as needed to fully understand the main algorithms for public-key cryptography, including Diffie-Helman, the RSA method and El Gamal. Applications of public-key cryptography including encryption and digital signatures are also covered. Based on this introduction to cryptology, the student is introduced to the basic concepts of security protocols and their implementation. Simple protocols for key exchange and authentication, leading on to more involved protocols for implementing secure e-mail, S/MIME and secure wireless communications.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe historial ciphers and identify their weaknesses.
2. Define and contrast contemporary symmetric cryptographic techniques and show their applications.
3. Solve elementary problems in number theory relating to cryptography.
4. Explain hash functions, specify their desirable properties and illustrate their applications.
5. Define and contrast contemporary public-key cryptographic techniques and show their applications.
6. Describe and analyse security protocols for applications such as authentication and key-exchange, e-mail and wireless communication.
7. Describe the fundamental concepts underpinning security protocols, key management and public key infrastructures.
8. Explain the basic threat models that need to be countered in secure systems, and describe how cryptography can help.
9. Identify the techniques available for meeting security objectives in the context of the modern world.
10. Integrate cryptographic code into software projects.
11. Design and write software to implement security protocols.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	36	Lectures
Assignment Completion	52	Programming projects
Independent Study	99.5	Self-directed study
Total Workload: 187.5

Section Breakdown
CRN	10601	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	30%	Examination Weight	70%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Geoffrey Hamilton	Module Teacher	Andrew McCarren

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Implementation of cryptographic algorithm.	15%	Week 6
Assignment	Implementation of security protocol.	15%	Week 12
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	70%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

Alfred J. Menezes, Paul C. van Oorschot, Scott A. Vanstone: 1997, Handbook of Applied Cryptography, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 0-8493-8523-7
Nigel Smart: 2013, Cryptography: An Introduction, 3, McGraw-Hill, 0-077-09987-7

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None