How to teach undergraduate students a real cipher design

摘要

In this study, we present a four round symmetric encryption algorithm which we call MSAES (Modified and Simplified AES). The designed encryption algorithm has 32-bit input and 32-bit output and therefore cannot be used security purposes. Instead, it is designed for educational purposes. On the other hand, our study aims to teach basic concepts of a real cipher design and to make undergraduate students enthusiastic on the subjects like discrete mathematics, error correcting codes, computer architecture, coding theory, number theory and finite field theory. As a result, we do not only aim to give an introduction to real life security, but also aim to make undergraduate students more enthusiastic on the given subjects by giving illustrative examples for a modified and simplified version of the AES cipher.