New Directions in Cryptography for Electronic Commerce

University Of California-Davis, Davis CA

Investigators

Abstract

This research focuses on enhancing the state of scientific knowledge regarding cryptography and security in electronic commerce. The investigators study new models and abstractions, and find novel e-commerce applications for a wide range of cryptographic techniques. The research is focused on four main areas: (1) Secure multi-party protocols -- How can mutually mistrustful agents cooperate? (2) Anonymity and privacy mechanisms -- How can the protection of sensitive information be guaranteed by design? (3) Fraud detection and prevention -- How can illicit profit be systematically reduced? (4) Secure content distribution -- How can virtual classrooms, concerts and bookstores be streamlined? Deeper connections are sought by combining ideas from these areas. Within the area of secure multi-party protocols, the researchers are exploring efficient special-purpose protocols for e-commerce functions of practical importance, to improve on the powerful but inefficient completeness theorems of Goldreich et al. (1987), Ben-Or et al. (1988), and others. Anonymity and privacy mechanisms under consideration include new methods for deniable payment mechanisms. For fraud detection and prevention, the investigators examine adversary models such as malicious-but-rational and malicious-but-uncoordinated faults, and new uses of lightweight cost functions. The research in secure content distribution includes new traitor tracing schemes, and new applications of zero knowledge proofs.