Document Type

Student Research Paper

Date

Spring 2018

Academic Department

Mathematical Sciences

Faculty Advisor(s)

Timothy McDevitt

Abstract

Our paper describes a particular class of digital cipher system that generates encryption keys using "linear feedback shift registers" (LFSRs) and nonlinear Boolean functions. In it, we review the details of such systems and the existing cryptanalysis methods used to recover secret keys and break the corresponding encryption. We also introduce a method for maximizing the statistical power of these attacks, alongside a novel attack method that makes use of a property of Boolean functions that we define and analyze.

Notes

Senior thesis.

Included in

Mathematics Commons

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