The article provides an overview of significant developments in cryptography during the year 2013. Key topics include: 1. **Indistinguishability Obfuscation and Functional Encryption**: Researchers Sanjam Garg, Craig Gentry, Shai Halevi, Mariana Raykova, Amit Sahai, and Brent Waters presented advancements in obfuscation and functional encryption for general circuits, ensuring that obfuscated circuits are computationally indistinguishable and that functional encryption schemes are secure. 2. **Cryptographic Advances and Security Risks**: The article highlights the potential security risks posed by recent mathematical advances, particularly in discrete logarithm algorithms and RSA key generation, which could undermine encryption systems used for secure online communications. 3. **Security Vulnerabilities in Cryptographic Implementations**: - **TLS Timing Attacks**: Researchers AlFardan and Paterson demonstrated timing side-channel attacks against TLS, which could be exploited to reveal plaintext data. - **Renesas AE45C1 Microcontroller**: Faulty hardware RNG in the Renesas AE45C1 microcontroller allowed the factorization of RSA keys. - **Chung-Hwa Telecom HiCOS PKI Smart Cards**: Smart cards used for various government and business transactions were found to have vulnerabilities, leading to the factorization of RSA keys. 4. **NSA's Influence on Cryptographic Standards**: - **DUAL_EC_DRBG**: The NSA's influence on the Dual_EC_DRBG algorithm, a pseudo-random number generator, was exposed. The algorithm was found to have a backdoor, potentially allowing the NSA to decrypt data. - **NSA Bullrun Program**: The NSA's program to insert vulnerabilities into commercial encryption systems was revealed, including the use of Dual_EC_DRBG. 5. **Public Reactions and Industry Responses**: - **Lavabit Data Breach**: Ladar Levison, the CEO of Lavabit, shut down the company due to pressure from the U.S. government, leading to the exposure of user data. - **Google's MUSCULAR Project**: Google's project to circumvent SSL crypto was criticized, with the company expressing outrage and promising to improve security. 6. **Security Controversies and Standards**: - **SHA-3 Controversy**: NIST's proposal to weaken the winner of the SHA-3 competition was criticized. - **XCB Disk Encryption Standard**: The XCB disk encryption standard was found to have security flaws, leading to the development of safer alternatives. - **Acoustic Cryptanalysis**: Acoustic cryptanalysis, a method of extracting RSA keys through acoustic signals, was demonstrated, highlighting the need for better physical security measures. 7. **Civil Liberties and Privacy**: - The article discusses the balance between national security and civil liberties, emphasizing the importance of protecting privacy and preventing government overreach. Overall, the year 2013 saw significant advancements and challenges inThe article provides an overview of significant developments in cryptography during the year 2013. Key topics include: 1. **Indistinguishability Obfuscation and Functional Encryption**: Researchers Sanjam Garg, Craig Gentry, Shai Halevi, Mariana Raykova, Amit Sahai, and Brent Waters presented advancements in obfuscation and functional encryption for general circuits, ensuring that obfuscated circuits are computationally indistinguishable and that functional encryption schemes are secure. 2. **Cryptographic Advances and Security Risks**: The article highlights the potential security risks posed by recent mathematical advances, particularly in discrete logarithm algorithms and RSA key generation, which could undermine encryption systems used for secure online communications. 3. **Security Vulnerabilities in Cryptographic Implementations**: - **TLS Timing Attacks**: Researchers AlFardan and Paterson demonstrated timing side-channel attacks against TLS, which could be exploited to reveal plaintext data. - **Renesas AE45C1 Microcontroller**: Faulty hardware RNG in the Renesas AE45C1 microcontroller allowed the factorization of RSA keys. - **Chung-Hwa Telecom HiCOS PKI Smart Cards**: Smart cards used for various government and business transactions were found to have vulnerabilities, leading to the factorization of RSA keys. 4. **NSA's Influence on Cryptographic Standards**: - **DUAL_EC_DRBG**: The NSA's influence on the Dual_EC_DRBG algorithm, a pseudo-random number generator, was exposed. The algorithm was found to have a backdoor, potentially allowing the NSA to decrypt data. - **NSA Bullrun Program**: The NSA's program to insert vulnerabilities into commercial encryption systems was revealed, including the use of Dual_EC_DRBG. 5. **Public Reactions and Industry Responses**: - **Lavabit Data Breach**: Ladar Levison, the CEO of Lavabit, shut down the company due to pressure from the U.S. government, leading to the exposure of user data. - **Google's MUSCULAR Project**: Google's project to circumvent SSL crypto was criticized, with the company expressing outrage and promising to improve security. 6. **Security Controversies and Standards**: - **SHA-3 Controversy**: NIST's proposal to weaken the winner of the SHA-3 competition was criticized. - **XCB Disk Encryption Standard**: The XCB disk encryption standard was found to have security flaws, leading to the development of safer alternatives. - **Acoustic Cryptanalysis**: Acoustic cryptanalysis, a method of extracting RSA keys through acoustic signals, was demonstrated, highlighting the need for better physical security measures. 7. **Civil Liberties and Privacy**: - The article discusses the balance between national security and civil liberties, emphasizing the importance of protecting privacy and preventing government overreach. Overall, the year 2013 saw significant advancements and challenges in