16.1.2. Discrete Logarithm and Cryptographic Applications

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is the main purpose of public key cryptography?

   Hint

   Consider how messages are encoded and decoded.

2. 2.

   Explain the basic concept of the Diffie-Hellman key exchange.

   Hint

   Think about how two people can agree on a key without telling anyone else.

3. 3.

   What does public key cryptography enable?

   • Only private communication between two users
   • Unexpected public access to messages
   • Secure communication using a public key to encrypt and a private key to decrypt

   Hint

   Consider the roles of public and private keys.

4. 4.

   True or False: The Diffie-Hellman key exchange requires both parties to be online at the same time.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about scheduling and availability.

5. 5.

   Cryptanalyze an existing public key system by explaining how knowledge of the public key could lead to a potential breach of security.

   Hint

   Research known attack vectors in public key systems.

6. 6.

   Examine a real-world application of RSA encryption in security protocols, explaining how it protects data.

   Hint

   Look into the handshake process in identifying this.