Handbook

Mathematics is a key enabler of computer science and cyber security.

This course introduces essential concepts in cryptography and builds the mathematical foundations necessary for graduates in computing and cyber security, with a particular focus on the theory and application of cryptographic techniques. Students explore key topics such as number theory and discrete mathematics, and develop skills in formal reasoning, proofs, and algorithmic thinking. Students also examine classical ciphers, the mathematical structure of popular modern encryption algorithms such as RSA and AES, their vulnerabilities, and associated attacks. 

Through hands-on lab exercises, students design and break classical ciphers using methods such as frequency analysis, apply cryptographic techniques—including symmetric and asymmetric encryption—to real-world scenarios, and investigate vulnerabilities in secure communication protocols such as TLS by simulating attacks, including Man-in-the-Middle attacks.