Challenges

Before giving the papers to the public, I would say a word to those who may take an interest in them, and give them a little advice, acquired by bitter experience. It is, to devote only such time as can be spared from your legitimate business to the task, and if you can spare no time, let the matter alone. Again, never, as I have done, sacrifice your own and your family's interests to what may prove and illusion; but, as I have already said, when your day's work is done, and you are comfortably seated by your good fire, a short time devoted to the subject can injure no one, and may bring its reward.

From the Beale Papers

Challenge problems are optional, and meant to be somewhere between quite difficult and nearly impossible. Work on them if you find it a fun challenge and can do so without neglecting your responsibilities.

The value of a challenge is initially 100 points (equivalent to one problem set). It may be reduced after a hint is provided.

The bonus points will be given for the first satisfactory solution. Later solutions may receive some credit at my discretion, but only if the significantly improve the first solution. You may work in groups and consult external resources on challenge problems. If N people work together on a challenge problem, each person receives a bonus of value/sqrt(N).

Winners of a challenge problem will also be expected to explain what they did to the class.

Challenge 1: Jefferson Wheel Ciphertext (Open 20 January)

Challenge 2: Anonymous, Tamper-Proof Card Polling (Open 25 January)

Challenge 3: See PS3 Comments

Challenge 4: See Midterm Comments

University of Virginia Department of Computer Science CS 588: Cryptology - Principles and Applications

cs588–staff@cs.virginia.edu