PhD project in Side-channel analysis countermeasure of Quantum Safe implementations on hardware (aims to FPGA)

Location: United Kingdom
Application Deadline: 28 February 2025
Published: 1 week ago

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Overview

The conventional cryptography is claimed will be broken due to the appearance of Quantum Computer. Various PostQuantum crypto (PQC) or Quantum Safe algorithms are proposed and went to standardization like Lattice-based CRYSTALS-Kyber. However, the implementation of those algorithms in software leaks sensitive information (like private key) to side-channel (like electromagnetic field, power consumption and execution time) and can be revealed in less than 50 traces (50 decryption times) with the help of machine learning or using conventional correlation power analysis (CPA). This project aims to identifying actual and potential leakage operation of the implementations on hardware, aiming to FPGA implementation before applying various hardware oriented SCA countermeasure methods like dual-rail logic, dual-rail memory, various hardware dedicated multiplication, masking (additive, multiplicative and affine), shuffling to make the implementation of PQC safer under SCA.

SCA is a real threaten to all cryptographic devices. Even though the conventional cryptographic algorithms like AES and the modern PQC algorithms like Latice based CRYSTALS-Kyber are proved safe in theory, their high-speed implementations on hardware (ASIC, FPGA) leaks sensitive information to side-channel through information like power consumption, electromagnetic field, and computation time. SCA applies divide and conquer strategy to find leakage of each small number of key bits group to side-channel while executing those data to find the whole secret key. Hence, SCA countermeasure implementations of PQC algorithm on hardware are necessary to increase the security. This project will:

[1] Identify the known and potential leakage points where sensitive data like the secret/private key, the message, data in key exchange mechanism can be revealed as well as attack models in PQC implementations in available hardware implementations, aiming to CRYSTALS-Kyber algorithm.

[2] Evaluate available PQC hardware implementation under SCA using conventional CPA or state-of-the-art ML based attacks.

[3] Apply hardware oriented SCA countermeasures methods like dual-rail logic, dual-rail memory, various multiplication schemes, masking, shuffling in implementing PQC on hardware and evaluate in FPGA.

[4] Re-evaluate the hardware implementations of PQC under SCA.

Funding Information

To be eligible for consideration for a Home DfE or EPSRC Studentship (covering tuition fees and maintenance stipend of approx. £19,237 per annum), a candidate must satisfy all the eligibility criteria based on nationality, residency and academic qualifications.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria and the associated residency requirements:

• Be a UK National,
or • Have settled status,
or • Have pre-settled status,
or • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter the UK.

Candidates from ROI may also qualify for Home student funding.

Previous PhD study MAY make you ineligible to be considered for funding.

Please note that other terms and conditions also apply.

Please note that any available PhD studentships will be allocated on a competitive basis across a number of projects currently being advertised by the School.

A small number of international awards will be available for allocation across the School. An international award is not guaranteed to be available for this project, and competition across the School for these awards will be highly competitive.

Academic Requirements:

The minimum academic requirement for admission is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI Higher Education provider in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

Entrance requirements

Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen’s University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Find a supervisor

If you’re interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.

To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.

You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.

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