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CrypTool

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Teaching Cryptography and Steganography

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Jiri Jirik, Director, EPNC

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Education Pathway National Center (EPNC)

Moraine Valley Community College serves as the NCAE-C Education Pathway National Center (EPNC).

  • The EPNC …
    • Serves as the national resource and coordinator for education pathways to cybersecurity careers;
    • Manage NCAE-C initiatives for transition of high school students to post-secondary education;
    • Collaborate with Careers Preparation National Center (CPNC);
    • Leverage and focus implementation of RING initiative; and
    • Lollaborate to support faculty development initiatives;

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Resources

Relevant

Accessible

Rigorous

Engaging

Comprehensive

  • EMATES
  • Academic Advisors/Career Counselors Kit
  • Cybersecurity Case Studies
  • Cryptography Exercises/Activities
  • Embedded AI – Packet Tracer
  • 3D/2D VR/ER/AR
  • Virtual Labs and Lab Environment

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Cryptography Labs and Labs Environment

  • Classical Cryptography
  • Modern Cryptography
  • Symmetrical Encryption
  • Asymmetrical Encryption
  • Hashing
  • Steganography
  • Digital Certificates
  • Digital Signatures
  • PKI
  • Cryptoanalysis

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How do you teach cryptography?

  • K-12 and community college level
    • Theoretical understanding of cryptographic functions
    • Practical application of the cryptographic systems (i.e. evaluation and configuration of cryptographic systems to ensure data security)
  • BS/MS/ Doctoral level
    • Theoretical understanding of cryptographic algorithms
    • Theoretical and practical understanding of the algorithms behind the cryptographic systems (i.e. evaluation of security requirements, configuration of cryptographic system, and design of cryptographic algorithms to ensure data security)

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CrypTool Overview

Developed by students at the University of Munich in late 1990’s

  • To explore cryptography and steganography principles
    • CrypTool Online (CTO) - accessible from any modern browser with limited functionality
    • CrypTool 1 (CT1) – cryptographic algorithms for Windows systems

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CrypTool Overview

    • CrypTool 2 (CT2) – introduced programming, cryptographic procedures, and cryptoanalysis
    • JCrypTool (JCT) – java implementation for developers (big focus on post-quantum cryptography)
    • https://www.cryptool.org/en/

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CrypTool NDG Environment

20 hands-on labs

  • 13 ‘cookie-cutter’ labs with detailed overviews, explanations, and steps-by-steps instructions for students
  • 7 ‘competency’ or ‘assessment’ labs with real-world scenarios to test the students’ ability to apply the knowledge and skills obtained in the step-by-step labs
  • https://portal.netdevgroup.com/learn/ring-cryptool-training

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Range Access and Support

  • Over the summer, we ran a test case of 140 students using the labs
  • Works with any OS and Mobile Device including Chrome Books and Raspberry Pi’s
  • Resource intensive tools like CrypTool

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Range Access and Support

  • Training
    • Provide Training of the Virtual Lab Environment
  • Tracking
    • Centralized website to direct future NDG environment users. This will also identify users that will require training before accessing the material.

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NCAE-C

Education Pathway National Center

Questions / Comments ?