Suggested Project Topics
and Related Resources - Fall 2020

Hardware projects

1. Implementation of a selected secret-key authenticated cipher competing in the NIST Lightweight Cryptography standardization process using VHDL or Verilog
   

            Resources:

• Hardware Benchmarking of Lightweight Cryptography
  
  

2. Implementing and comparing cryptographic algorithms using LegUp High-Level Synthesis
   

            Resources:

• LegUp High-Level Synthesis
  

• Toward a New HLS-Based Methodology for FPGA Benchmarking of Candidates in Cryptographic Competitions: The CAESAR Contest Case Study
  
  

3. Implementing and comparing cryptographic algorithms using Vivado High-Level Synthesis
   

            Resources:

• Vivado High-Level Synthesis
  

• Toward a New HLS-Based Methodology for FPGA Benchmarking of Candidates in Cryptographic Competitions: The CAESAR Contest Case Study
  

• Parallel Programming for FPGAs: The HLS Book
  
  

4. Implementation of a random sampler for Post-Quantum Cryptography
   

            Resources:

• Sampling from Discrete Distributions in Combinational Hardware with Application to Post-Quantum Cryptography, DATE 2020
  

• On Practical Discrete Gaussian Samplers for Lattice-Based Cryptography
  

• Public Key Cryptography on Hardware Platforms, Chapter 4, Discrete Gaussian sampling
  
  

Software projects

1. Database of results obtained using FPGA Benchmarking of candidates in the NIST Lightweight Cryptography standardization process
   

            Resources:

• Hardware Benchmarking of Lightweight Cryptography
  

• Authenticated Encryption FPGA Ranking
  
  

2. Database of results obtained using FPGA Benchmarking of candidates in the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography standardization process
   

            Resources:

• Implementation and Benchmarking of Round 2 Candidates in the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Process Using Hardware and Software/Hardware Co-design Approaches
  

• Authenticated Encryption FPGA Ranking
  
  

3. Constant-time implementation of a selected candidate in the NIST Lightweight Cryptography standardization process
   

            Resources:

• Something with Implementations
  

• dude, is my code constant time?
  

• Lightweight Cryptography - Round 2 Candidates
  
  

Analytical projects

1. Challenges of transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography from the point of view of major secure internet protocols, such as TLS, IPSec, and SSH
   

            Resources:

• Research from Open Quantum Safe members
  
  

2. Challenges of transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography from the point of view of its use in resource-constrained applications, such as the Internet of Things devices
   

            Resources:

• On Feasibility of Post-Quantum Cryptography on Small Devices
  

• Securing Edge Devices in the Post-Quantum Internet of Things Using Lattice-Based Cryptography
  
  

3. Major operations of Round 3 Post-Quantum Cryptography candidates
   

            Resources:

• Post-Quantum Cryptography: Round 3 Submissions
  
  

4. Attacks against Public-Key Infrastructure
   

            Resources:

• How certificate revocation (doesn't) work in practice
  

• Do Web Browsers Obey Best Practices When Validating Digital Certificates?
  

• SSL And The Future Of Authenticity
  

• More Tricks for Defeating SSL
  
  

5. State of the art of email encryption
   

            Resources:

• The Most Stubborn Myths About Email Encryption
  
  

6. Validation of cryptographic modules
   

            Resources:

• Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP)