Lightweight Cryptography (CY-802 (C)) - Important Questions

Explain the concept of a mode of operation in cryptography. Provide an example of a specific mode used with lightweight block ciphers.

Attempt any three.

Analyze the trade-offs of reducing key size in a cryptographic algorithm and its impact on security and efficiency.

Explain how lightweight block cipher design choices targeting resource constraints (area, power) impact resistance to cryptanalytic attacks.

Explain why traditional cryptographic algorithms may be unsuitable for resource-constrained devices.

Attempt any three:

Describe design strategies for lightweight block ciphers. How do these differ from the design of traditional block ciphers like AES?

Describe the unique features of one of the less common lightweight ciphers PRINCE, MIDORI, RECTANGLE or GRANULE.

Explain how the lightweight operations used in SIMON and SPECK affect performance compared to traditional block ciphers.

Identify block ciphers among LED, SIMON and SPECK, or TWINE that use lightweight versions of existing operations.

Briefly describe the design philosophies behind two of the listed lightweight block ciphers (DESL/DESXL or PRESENT/CLEFIA).

Discuss the importance of open design and public cryptanalysis for the long-term security and viability of lightweight block ciphers.

Describe the function of a substitution box (S-Box) in a block cipher.

Compare centralized vs distributed key management for lightweight cryptography and their security implications.

Lightweight MACs often utilize lightweight block ciphers or hash functions as building blocks. How do the security properties of the underlying primitive impact the security of the MAC?

Compare and contrast design principles of traditional hash functions vs lightweight hash functions and their impact on performance and security.

Identify application domains that rely on lightweight cryptography.

Explain key management in cryptography and challenges for resource-constrained devices.

Describe the purpose of a cryptographic hash function and give a real-world application using lightweight hashing.

Stream ciphers can be vulnerable to specific attacks like the "birthday attack". How can the design of a stream cipher be optimized to resist such attacks while maintaining efficiency?

How can lightweight key management be integrated into protocols like IPSec or TLS for securing communication in resource-constrained environments?

Explain how asymmetric key management can be used in a group key management protocol for IoT devices.

Describe specific techniques used to make asymmetric key management more lightweight for resource-constrained IoT devices.

How do key management requirements differ between Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) and IoT devices, and how does this influence the choice of a lightweight key management approach?

New lightweight group key management protocols are constantly being proposed. What are the key considerations when evaluating the suitability of a new protocol for a specific IoT application?

Describe how symmetric key management can be integrated into a lightweight group key management protocol for IoT devices.