CT-ISG: Cryptography for Computational Grids

University Of California-San Diego, La Jolla CA

Investigators

Abstract

The computational grid is an emerging infrastructure in which scientists such as physicists, biologists or astronomers can unite powerful remote computers, sensors and databases to perform large-scale computations. However the grid gives rise to many cryptographic and security problems that need to be addressed. This project aims to provide practical solutions to these problems whose security is justified via proofs of security. It will address numerous specific problems. The first is access control, meaning ensuring that only authorized entities (whether end-users or simply grid resources) can access or modify data. To address this, the project will provide protocols for dictionary-attack safe, password-based authentication. Next, the project will consider sensor arrays that send out sensitive measurements. To ensure security they will be signed. To save bandwidth, the project will provide methods to compress the different signatures into a single compact one. (Previous methods do not apply in this setting.) Finally the project will consider the protection of data on grid databases via encryption, providing mechanisms for searches on encrypted databases that are much faster than current ones, in particular being of about the same cost as search on un-encrypted databases.