Assignment 5 - Elements of Cryptography

Discussion Questions

1. (DUE March 15, 2006 by midnight EDT) Briefly answer the following two questions:
   • What was the most difficult part of chapter 7 & 8 or the most surprising thing you learned in chapter 7 & 8?
2. (DUE March 16, 2006 before midnight (11:59 p.m. EST)) Select one of the following questions to discuss in detail through the threaded discussion.
   • What are the risks in the U.S. government's selecting a cryptosystem for widspread commercial use (both inside and outside the United States)? How could users from outside the United States overcome some or all of thse risks?
   • The U.S. Department of Commerce · Bureau of Industry and Security has revised the U.S. Encryption Export Control Policy to allow encryption commodities and software with symmetric key lengths exceeding 64 bits may be exported and reexported. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this change in policy.
   • When should email correspondence be encrypted? Discuss the pros and cons of encrypting email.
3. (DUE March 21, 2006 before midnight (11:59 p.m. EST)) Select a discussion from one or more of your classmates and respond to their comments.