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Research Profile

With the coming of the Information Age, the Internet, local area/wide area networking, the data superhighway etc., the time has come to seriously consider the impact of the availability and accessibility of so much data. One issue that immediately arises is that of security. As things stand, it is incredibly easy for a malicious outsider to access data resources, to eavesdrop, to tamper, and to destroy. The mechanisms to defend our communications and data are available, but are only rarely applied - one reason being that security has the common side-effect of inconvenience for the honest user.

One important security mechanism is Cryptology, the art of securing data and communications, using a secret key. Recent theoretical breakthroughs, primarily in the area of so-called Public Key Cryptography, have placed new flexible tools in the hands of implementors. Some application areas include:

  • Securing Telephone/Fax communications
  • Securing Computer/Computer communications e.g. Email, Secure ftp, etc.
  • Securing Financial transactions. Implementing "Digital Cash"
  • Hardening Computer operating systems against illegal access
  • Smart-Cards for Telephones/Pay TV/Access control

Dr. Scott and his colleagues have been involved in the development of software to assist developers of such applications. One result has been the MIRACL C/C++ Library of functions to implement Public Key primitives. This library is now in World-Wide use. Recently it was used by the School of Computing in the development of the security sub-system component of the ESPIRIT ELO (Elusive Office) project. Other recent research has led to the development of new cipher systems, and new modes of operation. Another current project involves the implementation of a secure Telephone/Fax/Modem system for a major UK company.

Ireland has an advantage in that there are no regulations preventing the export of secure applications. The DCU School of Computing is building a strong "security" research group to address the needs of industry, as they arise in the context of securing information. This represents the main thrust of Dr. Scott's future research plans.