Block encryption algorithms are now the most widely used cipher systems in the world to protect our communications and our data. Despite the fact that their design is open and public, there is absolutely no guarantee that there do not exist hidden features, at the mathematical design level, that could enable an attacker to break those systems in an operational way. Such features are called backdoors or trapdoors. The present book intends to address the feasibility of a particular class of such backdoors based on partitionning the plaintext and ciphertext message spaces. Going from the theory to the practical aspects, it is shown that mathematical backdoors in encryption systems are possible. This book, thus, intends to initiate a new field of research.

Symmetric cryptology is one of the two main branches of cryptology. Its applications are essential and vital in the Information Age, due to the efficiency of its constructions. The scope of this book in two volumes is two-fold. First, it presents the most important ideas that have been used in the design of symmetric primitives, their inner components and their most relevant constructions. Second, it describes and provides insights on the most popular cryptanalysis and proof techniques for analyzing the security of the above algorithms. A selected number of future directions, such as post-quantum security or design of ciphers for modern needs and particular applications, are also discussed. We believe that the two volumes of this work will be of interest to researchers, to master’s and PhD students studying or working in the field of cryptography, as well as to all professionals working in the field of cybersecurity.

The 4-volume sets LNCS 13507, 13508, 13509, 13510 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 42nd Annual International Cryptology Conference, CRYPTO 2022, which was held in Santa Barbara, CA, USA, in August 2022. The total of 100 papers included in the proceedings was reviewed and selected from 455 submissions. The papers were organized in the following topical sections: Cryptanalysis; randomness; quantum cryptography; advanced encryption systems; secure messaging; lattice-based zero knowledge; lattice-based signatures; blockchain; coding theory; public key cryptography; signatures, idealized models; lower bounds; secure hash functions; post-quantum cryptography; symmetric cryptanalysis; secret sharing and secure multiparty computation; unique topics; symmetric key theory; zero knowledge; and threshold signatures.

This book constitutes revised selected papers from the 22nd International Conference on Information Security and Cryptology, ICISC 2019, held in Seoul, South Korea, in December 2019. The total of 18 papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 43 submissions. The papers were organized in topical sections named: public-key encryption and implementation; homomorphic encryption; secure multiparty computation; post-quantum cryptography; secret sharing and searchable encryption; storage security and information retrieval; and attacks and software security.

Conference on Cryptologic Research, CRYPTO 2020, which was held during August 17–21, 2020. Crypto has traditionally been held at UCSB every year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic it will be an online event in 2020. The 85 papers presented in the proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from a total of 371 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: Part I: Security Models; Symmetric and Real World Cryptography; Hardware Security and Leakage Resilience; Outsourced encryption; Constructions. Part II: Public Key Cryptanalysis; Lattice Algorithms and Cryptanalysis; Lattice-based and Post Quantum Cryptography; Multi-Party Computation. Part III: Multi-Party Computation; Secret Sharing; Cryptanalysis; Delay functions; Zero Knowledge.

Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games columns in Scientific American inspired and entertained several generations of mathematicians and scientists. Gardner in his crystal-clear prose illuminated corners of mathematics, especially recreational mathematics, that most people had no idea existed. His playful spirit and inquisitive nature invite the reader into an exploration of beautiful mathematical ideas along with him. These columns were both a revelation and a gift when he wrote them; no one--before Gardner--had written about mathematics like this. They continue to be a marvel. This volume was originally published in 1989 and contains columns from published 1976-1978. This 1997 MAA edition contains three new columns written specifically for this volume including the resurrection of the lamented Dr. Matrix.

This volume constitutes the strictly refereed post-workshop proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop on Fast Software Encryption, FSE'97, held in Haifa, Israel, in January 1997. The 23 full papers presented were carefully selected from 44 submissions and revised for inclusion in the book. Also contained is a summary of a panel discussion. The papers are organized in sections on cryptanalysis, blockciphers, stream ciphers, message authentication codes, modes of operation, and fast software encryption. Particular emphasis is placed on applicability and implementation issues of fast cryptography.