Algebraic attacks constitute an effective class of cryptanalytic attacks which have come up recently. In algebraic attacks, the relations between the input, output and the key are expressed as a system of equations and then solved for the key. The main idea is in obtaining a system of equations which is solvable using reasonable amount of resources. The new approaches proposed in this work and experimental studies on the existing algebraic attacks on stream ciphers will be presented. In the first attack on filter generator, the input-output relations are expressed in conjunctive normal form. The system of equations is then solved using modified Zakrevskij technique. This was one of the earliest algebraic attacks on the nonlinear filter generator. In the second attack, we relaxed the constraint on algebraic attack that the entire system description be known and the output sequence extension problem where the filter function is unknown is considered. We modeled the problem as a multivariate interpolation problem and solved it. An advantage of this approach is that it can be adapted to work for noisy output sequences where as the existing algebraic attacks expect the output sequence to be error free. Adding memory to filter/combiner function increases the degree of system of equations and finding low degree equations in this case is computeintensive. The method for computing low degree relations for combiners with memory was applied to the combiner in E0 stream cipher. We found that the relation given in literature [Armknecht and Krause] was incorrect. We obtained the correct equation and verified its correctness. A time-data size trade off attack for clock controlled filter generator was developed. The time complexity and the data requirements are in between the two approaches used in literature. A recent development of algebraic attacks - the Cube attack was studied. Cube attack on variants of Trivium were proposed by Dinur and Shamir where linear equations in key bits were obtained by combining equations for output bit for same key and a set of Initialization Vectors (IVs). We investigated the effectiveness of the cube attack on Trivium. We showed that the linear equations obtained were not general and hence the attack succeeds only for some specific values of IVs. A reason for the equations not being general is given and a modification to the linear equation finding step suggested.

In this digital age, cryptography is largely built in computer hardware or software as discrete structures. One of the most useful of these structures is finite fields. In this thesis, we explore a variety of applications of the theory and applications of arithmetic and computation in finite fields in both the areas of cryptography and cryptanalysis. First, multiplication algorithms in finite extensions of prime fields are explored. A new algebraic description of implementing the subquadratic Karatsuba algorithm and its variants for extension field multiplication are presented. The use of cy- clotomic fields and Gauss periods in constructing suitable extensions of virtually all sizes for efficient arithmetic are described. These multiplication techniques are then applied on some previously proposed public key cryptosystem based on exten- sion fields. These include the trace-based cryptosystems such as XTR, and torus- based cryptosystems such as CEILIDH. Improvements to the cost of arithmetic were achieved in some constructions due to the capability of thorough optimisation using the algebraic description. Then, for symmetric key systems, the focus is on algebraic analysis and attacks of stream ciphers. Different techniques of computing solutions to an arbitrary system of boolean equations were considered, and a method of analysing and simplifying the system using truth tables and graph theory have been investigated. Algebraic analyses were performed on stream ciphers based on linear feedback shift registers where clock control mechanisms are employed, a category of ciphers that have not been previously analysed before using this method. The results are successful algebraic attacks on various clock-controlled generators and cascade generators, and a full algebraic analyses for the eSTREAM cipher candidate Pomaranch. Some weaknesses in the filter functions used in Pomaranch have also been found. Finally, some non-traditional algebraic analysis of stream ciphers are presented. An algebraic analysis on the word-based RC4 family of stream ciphers is performed by constructing algebraic expressions for each of the operations involved, and it is concluded that each of these operations are significant in contributing to the overall security of the system. As far as we know, this is the first algebraic analysis on a stream cipher that is not based on linear feedback shift registers. The possibility of using binary extension fields and quotient rings for algebraic analysis of stream ciphers based on linear feedback shift registers are then investigated. Feasible algebraic attacks for generators with nonlinear filters are obtained and algebraic analyses for more complicated generators with multiple registers are presented. This new form of algebraic analysis may prove useful and thereby complement the traditional algebraic attacks. This thesis concludes with some future directions that can be taken and some open questions. Arithmetic and computation in finite fields will certainly be an important area for ongoing research as we are confronted with new developments in theory and exponentially growing computer power.