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ID: past-exam-of-the-computer-science-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2015/computer-security/1/b/ii/solution
Past exam of the computer science course of the University of Oxford 2015 Computer security 1 b ii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-31
The essential exponent condition isOtherwise the modular multiplicative inverse defining does not exist. For large prime numbers greater than three, this is equivalent toIf, for example, , the multiplicative group modulo has order divisible by three, and cubing is not a bijection; distinct plaintexts can have the same ciphertext. Unique decryption of all messages would then be impossible.
The prime numbers must also be distinct for the displayed totient formula, and selected sufficiently large and independently that integer factorization of is infeasible. A small factor, equal factors, or an exceptionally small difference between and gives an avoidable factorisation weakness. These size and generation conditions address security; the congruence condition addresses invertibility of cubing.
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