Assignment

What characteristics are needed in a secure hash function?

What is the benefit of adding the length field to the message to be hashed?

List the different security applications of the cryptographic hash function?

Briefly describe (using graphs) the Man-in-the-middle attack against hash function?

Briefly describe (using graphs) the variety of ways in which a hash code can be used to provide message authentication?

Briefly describe (using graphs) how a hash code is used to provide digital signature?

Briefly describe how a hash code is used to create a one-way password file?

Briefly describe how a hash code can be used for intrusion and virus detection?

What is the term preimage mean?

What the term collision mean?

What is the difference between weak and strong collision resistance?

Briefly describe the preimage and second preimage attacks and how to countermeasure against these attacks?

Briefly describe collision resistant attacks (birthday attacks) and how to countermeasure against these attacks?

Sketch the general structure of the secure hash function?

Sketch the general structure of SHA-512 Algorithm?

Briefly describe the processing steps of SHA-512 Algorithm to generate the hash code (message digest code)?