Lightweight Symmetric Key Cryptography: Design, Analysis, Implementation, and Application

轻量级密码学是指针对受限于面积、功率和能量等资源的数字硬件嵌入式系统而设计和实现的安全算法。这种系统的例子包括无线传感器网络中的RFID标签、智能卡和节点，并且这种系统的受限性质对系统安全的设计提出了独特的挑战。本研究的目的是研究针对嵌入式系统的轻量级密码算法(如分组密码、流密码和散列函数)的设计、实现和应用。 在这项研究中，我们将探索针对专用集成电路(ASIC)和现场可编程门阵列(FGA)的轻量级密码学的设计和实现问题，并将考虑对嵌入式系统重要的所有要求，包括面积、功耗和能量。由于许多嵌入式系统可以预期使用多种密码算法，因此我们将从资源共享等方面进行研究以提高效率。此外，设计和实现将考虑旁路攻击的应用，并将研究缓解这些攻击的方法。 研究成果将包括创建新的轻量级密码和散列算法，分析新的和现有的算法，以及针对无线传感器网络等重要应用开发新的、高效的实现。所进行的研究将对与轻量级密码硬件设计相关的知识做出重大贡献，并有望影响与嵌入式系统安全相关的工程实践。这将在知识产权和培训高素质人员方面对加拿大工业和信息技术和电信部门的政府组织具有重要价值。

Lightweight cryptography refers to the design and implementation of security algorithms that are targeted to digital hardware embedded systems constrained in resources, such as area, power, and energy. Examples of such systems include RFID tags, smartcards, and nodes in wireless sensor networks and the constrained nature of such systems poses unique challenges for the design of system security. The intent of this research is to investigate the design, implementation, and application of lightweight cryptographic algorithms such as block ciphers, stream ciphers, and hash functions targeted to embedded systems. In this research, we will explore the design and implementation issues of lightweight cryptography, targeted to both application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and will include consideration of all requirements important to embedded systems, including area, power, and energy. Since many embedded systems can be expected to utilize multiple cryptographic algorithms, we will examine aspects such as resource sharing to improve efficiency. Further, the designs and implementations will consider the application of side-channel attacks and methods will be investigated to mitigate these attacks. Research outcomes will include the creation of new lightweight cipher and hash algorithms, analysis of new and existing algorithms, and the development of novel, efficient implementations targeted to important applications such as wireless sensor networks. The research undertaken will contribute significantly to the knowledge associated with lightweight cryptographic hardware design and is expected to influence the engineering practice associated with embedded system security. This will be of significant value, both in terms of intellectual property and training of highly qualified personnel, to Canadian industry and government organizations in the information technology and telecommunications sectors.