Dan Boneh attacks systems, unlocks the locked and accesses the inaccessible. Fortunately, it's all in the cause of computer security, and you can learn from him in the unique CS graduate course, CS 255 Introduction to Cryptography, offered online through SCPD each year.

"Specifically, this course covers cryptography in computer security—anything you want to know about security data bases," says Boneh, Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at Stanford. "I have had students from law enforcement, government agencies and financial services, not just software businesses—this course has application to almost any aspect of computer industry. It's an area most people don't understand, and very few, if any, courses actually teach crypto and how to use it in the real world."

Industry students who completed Boneh's course recognize its value.

Denis Foo Kune, a Research Scientist at Honeywell Technology Solutions Lab in Minnesota had been thinking about moving toward data security in his career when he discovered the course two years ago. "Data security is an exciting new field, and CS 255 Introduction to Cryptography was the only cryptography course I've taken. In fact, it was pivotal to my being able to make a successful career change."

Foo Kune appreciated the structure and thoroughness of the curriculum. "The simplicity of the introduction was outstanding, and Professor Boneh gave a good survey of currently used algorithms and exchange protocols."

Ali Syed, a Java Architect with Sun Microsystems in New Jersey, elaborates. "Professor Boneh went deep into the structures—drove through all the algorithms, down to the bits and the bytes so we could understand exactly what they were doing in encryption. The algorithms change, but their designs remain the same; they are the basis of cryptography. Most of what I learned in the course holds true today."

Nitin Kartik, a Senior Staff Software Engineer for Motorola Inc. in Illinois, also cites teaching methods that were particularly effective. "It was very practically oriented. For instance, Professor Boneh actually asked whether anyone had double-clicked on the lock on a 'secure Web site,' and showed us how we could educate a user on the dangers of some of these sites—when it's not a good idea to trust them. The programming assignment was a very hands-on, do-it-yourself approach. We actually used the techniques we were taught in our assignments, which helped us retain what we learned."

Both Syed and Kartik have found valuable applications of course materials in their jobs. "It has helped me understand better how my network and software work—why we design our networks in certain ways," says Kartik. "In addition to the technical aspects, Professor Boneh goes into the social implications and aspects of security. We had to think from the user, non-technical aspects which a technical engineer can often forget. This is a useful perspective to have."

"While I may not use what I learned directly on my job, my work also involves a great deal of client interaction, and we talk a lot about high level protocols," says Syed. "Prior to this course I had no real understanding of the infrastructure, and that's what this course did for me—gave me confidence in discussing what security is with my clients. When they ask me, 'what do you mean it's secure?' Now I can explain it to them."

Kartik "Some of these techniques are not yet even being used. I think this will become more and more important, particularly as more financial interactions take place on the computer. Professor Boneh's course is really a little ahead of its time."

So is Boneh’s research. Recently, the theoretical work of Boneh and Matthew Franklin of the University of California at Davis, has led to the launching of a new identity-based encryption (IBE) system for email. The user-friendly secure email system, called the Voltage system, is currently being test-run in several California-based companies. (For more on this, read The New York Times article of July 7, 2003 “A Simpler, More Personal Key to Protect Online Messages” by John Markoff.)

Professor Boneh will be teaching CS 255 Introduction to Cryptography in the Winter Quarter.