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Research themes in CRoCS laboratory [crcs.cz/projects]

  1. Find project you like,
  2. Contact people involved (or visit OpenLab [crcs.cz/openlab]),
  3. Have fun while saving the world (of research and open-source)!

Join us! We are always looking for enthusiastic people with passion for problem solving willing to work hard yet having a good fun. Don't be afraid if you don't have previous experience in the project area you like. We are here to help you and we all learn something in the process.

The robust generation of a truly random data or pseudo-random data indistinguishable from the truly random ones is a crucial component for many cryptographic systems. We focus on finding defects in a supposedly random data with the help of automated testing methods included in so-called randomness statistical testing batteries.

While most existing batteries focus on the predefined fixed tests, we automatically generate tests which adapt to the analyzed data - resulting in a stronger bias detection with a less amount of data required and with direct interpretability of the bias found. We also design and develop means for speedup of existing statsitical batteries - both with help of more effcient implementations as well as distributed and CUDA-supported execution.

Find out more

Last update: 20. 09. 2018

Contact: Petr Švenda svenda@fi.muni.cz

More information, projects and resources:

Github repository

Involved people:

Former participants: Martin Ukrop 2012-2017 (framework model, refactoring, SHA-3 candidates testing, supporting tools); Ľubomír Obrátil 2014-2017 (BOINC&EACirc tasks automization); Jiří Novotný 2014-2016 (CUDA programming, EACirc core); Jan Švarc 2014-2015 (CUDA programming); Zdenek Říha 2013-2016 (bytecode emulator); Milan Čermák 2012-2013 (CUDA support); Ondrej Dubovec 2011-2012 (SHA-3 candidates testing); Matěj Prišťák 2011-2012 (object model and refactoring, XML support, eStream candidates testing); Tobiáš Smolka 2011-2012 (BOINC related support);

Selected publications

This projects focuses on the security of cryptographic smart cards and their interesting uses in security systems as a trusted element. We work mainly with JavaCard based cryptographic smart cards (sometimes also .NET or MULTOS cards). We maintain a large collection of JavaCards and use them to asses their performance, quality of truly random number generators, key generation algorithms as well as security improvements over the time.

We also develop tools and libraries helping open-source developers to create open, faster and more secure JavaCard applets.

Find out more

Last update: 20.9.2018

Contact: Petr Švenda svenda@fi.muni.cz

More information, projects and resources:

Involved people:

Former participants: Rajesh Kumar Pal (2016-2017) (JavaCard implementation of CAESAR candidates); Rudolf Kvašňovský 2014-2017 (alignment of DPA traces, YAFU); David Komárek 2015-2016 (power analysis of RSA operation); Lukáš Šrom 2014-2015 (support tests); Lenka Kuníková 2013-2014 (performance evaluation of JavaCards) and quite a lot of other people helping us since 2002

Publications

This project focuses on the cryptographic APIs with respect to their developer usability. Such APIs are notoriously complex and prone to usage errors – our goal is to analyze their (in)correct usage and propose precautions and guidelines to achieve better usability and security.

The current research focus is on usable interfaces of cryptographic libraries from the point of developers and administrators lacking detailed security education. We are interested in both programmable and command-line interfaces. Currently, the emphasis is placed on X.509-capable libraries, such as OpenSSL, GnuTLS and NSS, paying special attention to the process of certificate creation and validation. The goal is to enable the developers to use security APIs errorlessly and API designers create better interfaces less prone to misuse. We emphasize the necessity of a usable design even for tools targeted at experienced users.

Find out more Publications

Last update: 30. 11. 2019

Contact: Martin Ukrop mukrop@mail.muni.cz, Vašek Matyáš matyas@fi.muni.cz

Involved people:

Publications

The usable security projects focus on computational security and end users' behaviour. We already finished first three-year project in a cooperation with commercial companies and Faculty of social studies, Faculty of informatics, Faculty of law. The project aimed to identify influences that make users change their risky behaviour to more secure one. Three experiments are run in cooperation with commercial companies (ESET, Netsuite and SodatSW). Every experiment was targeted at different target group and used different technique (warning, security dialogue, e-learning, user-friendly password recovery, etc.). This project was unique for for the cooperation of three different branches (Faculty of science, Faculty of informatics, Faculty of law) and three commercial companies, who want to better understand their users and to increase the overall security of their products by improving interfaces and processes used by their end users.

Currently we are preparing new project in cooperation with Faculty of social studies and Monet+ company. It aims on user testing of selected authentication methods (FIDO token, identity card, face recognition and use of code only).

Find out more Internal wiki

Last update: 29. 9. 2017

Contact: Vašek Matyáš matyas@fi.muni.cz, Vlasta Šťavová 256169@mail.muni.cz, Agáta Dařbujanová xdarbuj@mail.muni.cz

Involved people:

Publications

  • [2018] Stavova, V., Dedkova, L., Ukrop, M., and Matyas, V. (in press). A large-scale comparative study of beta testers and standard users. Communications of the ACM.
  • [2017] Stavova, V., Matyas, V., Just M. and Ukrop, M.:Factors Influencing the Purchase of Security Software for Mobile Devices – Case Study, Infocommunications Journal, 2017, 18–23.
  • [2016] Stavova, V., Matyas, V. and Just M.: Codes v. People: A Comparative Usability Study of Two Password Recovery Mechanisms, WISTP 2016.
  • [2016] Stavova, V., Matyas, V. and Just M.: On the impact of warning interfaces for enabling the detection of Potentially Unwanted Applications, EuroUSEC 2016.

We run several data-scientific and Machine Learning projects with implications on security and privacy. We're collecting and analyzing various datasets from the area of malware research, location privacy, and network packets analysis. One of the goals is to show that seemingly innocent data can become a powerful tool for the adversary armed with the machine learning and/or statistics arsenal.

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Last update: 03. 12. 2019

Contact: Adam Janovský | adamjanovsky@mail.muni.cz

We build and continuously extend a large database of real-world cryptographic functions (CryptoStreams project containing block and stream ciphers, hash functions, PRNGs) parametrized by the number of used internal rounds and systematic patterns in their inputs. The resulting output data are then analyzed for the presence of unwanted defects.

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Last update: 20. 09. 2018

Contact: Marek Sýs syso@mail.muni.cz

More information, projects and resources:

Involved people:

Selected publications

Taking part in the Cuber Security for Europe project, the goal is to evaluate open source security software. Several categories of software are evaluated, including (but not limited to) operating systems, browsers, password managers, and encryption tools.

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Last update: 20. 09. 2018

Contact: Lukáš Němec lukas.nemec@mail.muni.cz

More information, projects and resources:

Involved people:

Selected publications

None so far.

This project includes providing a secure platform that is transparent for applications in wireless sensor networks (WSN) - WSNProtectLayer. Our platform includes intrusion detection system (IDS) detecting active attacks. We consider privacy issues to prevent passive attacks on the WSN. We also propose secrecy amplification protocols and evaluate key management schemes. Current work includes parametrised attacker simulated on KMSforWSN framework.

Find out more

Last update: 17.5.2018

Contact: Lukáš Němec lukas.nemec@mail.muni.cz

Additionally, we are developing an optimization framework for the IDS incorporating MiXiM simulator. Evolutionary algorithms are used to optimize the IDS's performance.

  • Research project internal wiki pages
  • WSNProtectLayer - security middleware for TinyOS
    • virtual radio is simulated and automatic packet protection, IDS and key management is provided.
    • WSNProtectLayer Github repository
    • Take a look at video showing WSNProtectLayer middleware in action.
  • Secrecy amplification protocols
    • establishing secure links in partially compromised network
    • SensorSim simulator download page - fast simulator optimized for simulation of secrecy amplification protocols and probabilistic key predistribution
    • KMSforWSN framework based on OMNet++ simulator together with parametrised attacker specification
  • Laboratory testbed
    • Laboratory tesbed with 28 TelosB and 20 JeeNode nodes
    • Edu-Hoc - laboratory Arduino-based testbed with JeeNode nodes together with security applications for ad-hoc and wireless sensor networks.

Involved people:

  • Lukáš Němec 2013-now (Crypto and Key management in TinyOS, Arduino testbed network, Edu-hoc)
  • Radim Ošťádal 2013-now (Secrecy amplification protocols, parametrised attacker in)
  • Petr Švenda 2004-now (Key management schemes, secrecy amplification protocols)

Former participants: Martin Stehlík 2010-2017 (IDS, simulators, optimization); Marek Sýs 2015 (secrecy amplification protocols); Filip Jurnečka 2010-2014 (Key management schemes), Marcel Gazdík 2012-2013 (ePIR&RFID hw readers), Dušan Klinec 2008-2014 (WSNProtectLayer core developer, a lot of network experiments), Jiří Kůr 2009-2014 (Privacy protection, key establishment), Tobiáš Smolka (testbed, omnetpp experiments, secrecy amplification), Andriy Stetsko (IDS in WSN)

Selected publications

This project focuses on usage, evaluation and extension of various tools related to secure programming, application vulnerabilities, security testing and code review. We are interested in static and dynamic analysis of applications with a special focus on security bugs, fuzzy testing, taint analysis and semi-automated review procedures and its incorporation into application development lifecycle. This project is coordinated with Y Soft Corporation, a.s., and for students participating in this project, there is a possibility to get a financial support from this company. More general information about Y Soft cooperation with students can be found here.

Find out more

Last update: 19.09.2018

Contact: Andriy Stetsko xstetsko@fi.muni.cz or andriy.stetsko@ysoft.com

Financial support: Y Soft Corporation, a.s. will provide financial support (in a form of stipend at the faculty or a part-time job in the company) to students with promising results.

Possible topics for cooperation with bachelor students:

Possible topics for cooperation with master students:

Involved people:

  • Andriy Stetsko 2012-now (Project coordinator, thesis supervisor, Y Soft Corporation, a.s.)

Previous research topics:

  • 2013-2017: Tools for dynamic security analysis of web applications, financial support from Y Soft Corporation
  • 2015-2016: Analysis and application of OWASP testing guide, financial support from Y Soft Corporation
  • 2015-2016: Metasploit, financial support from Y Soft Corporation
  • 2014-2016: Secure software development processes, financial support from Y Soft Corporation
  • 2012-2016: Tools for static and dynamic code analysis, financial support from Y Soft Corporation
  • 2014-2015: Security mechanisms of PDF files
  • 2014-2015: Security aspects of Xamarin/Android Platform
  • Cesta project - security-related transformations of JavaCard source code, financial support from Y Soft Corporation

The first goal is research, and implementation of new algorithms (key derivation, authenticated encryption or integrity protection mechanism) itno existing open-source LUKS/cryptsetup disk encryption project.

The second goal is to make LUKS/libcryptsetup (and supported FDE formats) truly multiplatform tool (Windows/Linux) with focus to independent and extensible open-source software based FDE (Full Disk Encryption) solution. We are focusing on Windows7 and later and Linux 4.x and later OS versions.

Find out more

Last update: 28.9.2016

Contact: Milan Brož xbroz@fi.muni.cz

Join us! The possible areas for cooperation:

  • Developing HMI (Human-machine interface) for storage encryption - ease of use, test cases, simple GUI, HMI usability experiments.
  • Disk (sector-level) storage encryption in Windows study, existing approaches and implementations (TrueCrypt, DiskCryptor, Bitlocker, FreeOTFE, …) with focus on free and open-source solutions. Windows driver architecture for implementing similar encryption capabilities as provided in Linux dm-crypt module.
  • Windows boot process analysis and possibilities to use open-source boot loaders like GRUB2 to inject boot of core Windows system from (LUKS) encrypted device.
  • Using open-source multiplatform encryption libraries (gcrypt, openssl, etc) for implementation of symmetric block cipher encryption wrappe in windows environment, both in userspace and driver.
  • Current status quo in RNG available in Windows7 and later systems, implementation of wrapper (or usable alternative) to Linux /dev/[u]random device.

Involved people:

Selected publications

Click to see Archived projects. Older projects, which are not currently actively pursued further, but may be activated again later (as happened for multiple projects already).