Introduction to Elliptic Curves in Cryptography: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Number Theory and Advanced Cryptography4. Elliptic Curves Chih-Hung Wang Sept. 2011 Part I: Introduction to Number Theory Part II: Advanced Cryptography

2. Elliptic Curve Cryptography • Majority of public-key crypto (RSA, D-H) use either integer or polynomial arithmetic with very large numbers/polynomials • Imposes a significant load in storing and processing keys and messages • An alternative is to use elliptic curves • In the mid-1980s, Miller and Koblitz introduced elliptic curves into cryptography. • Offers same security with smaller bit sizes • 4096-bit key size can be replaced by 313-bit elliptic curve system

3. Real Elliptic Curves • An elliptic curve is defined by an equation in two variables x & y, with coefficients • Consider a cubic elliptic curve of form • y2 = x3 + ax + b • where x,y,a,b are all real numbers • also define zero point O • Have addition operation for elliptic curve • geometrically sum of Q+R is reflection of intersection R

4. Real Elliptic Curve Example 1

5. Real Elliptic Curve Example 2

6. Geometric Description of Addition

7. Algebraic Description of Addition P+Q = R =(yQ-yP)/(xQ-xP) P+P = 2P = R

8. Addition Law

9. Example of Addition (1)

10. Example of Addition (2)

11. Example of Addition (3)

12. Elliptic Curves Mod p

13. Example 1

14. Example 2-1

15. Example 2-2

16. Example 3

17. Example 4

18. Law 1

19. Law 2

20. Number of points Mod p

21. Hasse’s Theorem Schoof Algorithm: http://www.math.rochester.edu/people/grads/jdreibel/ref/12-7-05-Schoof.pdf

22. Discrete Logarithms on EC

23. Representing plaintext (1)

24. Representing plaintext (2)

25. Elliptic Curve Cryptography • ECC addition is analog of modulo multiply • ECC repeated addition is analog of modulo exponentiation • need “hard” problem equiv to discrete log • Q=kP, where Q,P belong to a prime curve • is “easy” to compute Q given k,P • but “hard” to find k given Q,P • known as the elliptic curve logarithm problem • Certicom example: E23(9,17)

26. ECC Diffie-Hellman (1) • can do key exchange analogous to D-H • users select a suitable curve Ep(a,b) • select base point G=(x1,y1) with large order n s.t. nG=O • A & B select private keys nA<n, nB<n • compute public keys: PA=nA×G, PB=nB×G • compute shared key: K=nA×PB,K=nB×PA • same since K=nA×nB×G

27. ECC Diffie-Hellman (2)

28. ECC Diffie-Hellman (3)

29. ECC Diffie-Hellman (4) • Page 365

30. ECC Encryption/Decryption (1) • several alternatives, will consider simplest • must first encode any message M as a point on the elliptic curve Pm • select suitable curve & point G as in D-H • each user chooses private key nA<n • and computes public key PA=nA×G • to encrypt Pm : Cm={kG, Pm+k Pb}, k random • decrypt Cm compute: Pm+kPb–nB(kG) = Pm+k(nBG)–nB(kG) = Pm

31. ECC Encryption/Decryption (2) • Page 363-364

32. ECC Encryption/Decryption (3)

33. ECC Security (1) • Relies on elliptic curve logarithm problem • Fastest method is “Pollard rho method” • Compared to factoring, can use much smaller key sizes than with RSA etc • For equivalent key lengths computations are roughly equivalent • Hence for similar security ECC offers significant computational advantages

34. ECC Security (2)

35. ECC Digital Signature (page 365-366) Signing

36. ECC Digital Signature (page 365-366)II Verification

37. ECC Digital Signature (1)

38. ECC Digital Signature (2)

39. ECC Digital Signature (3)