18-733 Applied Cryptography
12 units, Carnegie Mellon University
A wide array of communication and data protections employ cryptographic mechanisms. This course explores modern cryptographic techniques in some detail. The course emphasizes how cryptographic mechanisms can be effectively used within larger security systems, and the dramatic ways in which cryptographic mechanisms can fail. Topics covered include cryptographic primitives such as symmetric encryption, public key encryption, digital signatures, message authentication codes, hash functions, commitments, and pseudo-random number generators. The course also covers cryptographic protocols, such as key exchange, remote user authentication, and interactive proof systems; threshold cryptography, oblivious transfers and secure multi-party computations; perfectly secure encryption and universal hash functions. The course also covers a variety of special applications including computing on encrypted data. Senior or graduate standing required.
Prerequisites: 18-330 or 14-741 or 18-730 or 18-631
Offered: Spring 2027, Spring 2026
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