Computer Science Thesis Idea: Security

AARRRGH

Hello

I'm going to be starting my Computer Science thesis soon, and I'm having serious trouble thinking of a topic.

I'd like to do it in an area of Cryptology. I have six months to do it. I want an A.

Can any of you suggest any ideas?

Thank you.

Martyr

Public key cryptography using Eliptic Curves - for purpose of product key registration is an interesting topic. (atleast i think so)

But you could also research how ECC will be used in future for a myriad of applications in authentication..for example RFIDs.

If you can, it would be interesting to see how the new GeForce GPUS can be used to accelerate crypto algos..
For example, can an 8800GTX outperform an FPGA for some tasks?
What benefits are there to writing code for 8800GTX (more widespread, CUDA requires C programming knowledge) instead of FPGA (less widespread,requires knowledge of circuits) and what the disadvantages are..overheating, power hungry.

I am still waiting for these 8800s to drop in price before finding out for myself.

There has been research in these areas already of course, but those who are doing so keep alot of source code/information to themselves.

AARRRGH

Thanks (and I meant to thank you for your reply to this thread.)

Eliptic Curve Cryptography sounds interesting.

Two questions if you don't mind:

1. It's been a while since I did any difficult third level maths (about 10 years.) Do you reckon someone who was above average at maths could pick this stuff up quick enough with a few books and/or a few grinds?
2. I see there are quite a few books on this stuff. Can you recommend any?

Thank you

Martyr

tbh, i'm not the best person to ask..might get better response asking about books related to ECC in the mathematics forum, unless of course someone with math knowledge answers here

you can check out Certicoms online tutorial

there are useful math/crypto links on this page.

don't quote me, but i don't believe knowing math is prerequisite to atleast implementing modern cryptography..it certainly helps of course and alot of literature requires the reader to understand mathematics quite well.

who will your audience be?

maybe its not necessary to focus so much on the mathematical theory behind ECC anyway?

Its used to protect information, so maybe highlight signature schemes, products that use it in everyday life, technologies now being designed for use in future - those are just my thoughts though..

Cantab.

Sounds more like a dissertation than a thesis to me.