Mathematical Cryptography and Its Application on Authentication and Verification

Dear Colleagues,

The proliferation of edge computing with artificial intelligence (AI) applications has become a driving force in the emergence of a new generation of Social Internet of Things (SIoT) communication. In addition, the advent of 6G wireless technology is expected to be transformative, revolutionizing the evolution of wireless communication from connected things to connected intelligence. Further, the robust integration of edge, AI, IoT, and Beyond 5G (B5G) or 6G is anticipated to catalyze significant economic growth across industries.

Authentication is critical in contemporary technology, especially when protecting sensitive information in an era where data breaches are becoming more regular. Robust authentication is essential for effective identity and access management and a foundational pillar of zero-trust security. However, the limitations of legacy authentication, which relies on legacy protocols such as Kerberos and RADIUS to protect the traditional network perimeter, render it inadequate to support authentication to cloud and web-based services and apps that depend on modern protocols.

Diverse security mechanisms are required, and their mindful orchestration is essential to bolster the system's security protection and deter potential threats. In the post-quantum era, where quantum computers are projected to become powerful enough to break the current cryptographic algorithms underpinning authentication, novel methods are necessary to protect users' and entities' digital identity and data. In this context, post-quantum cryptography (PQC) has emerged as a specialized branch of cryptography that aims to develop quantum-resistant algorithms using advanced mathematical principles.

We aim to attract diverse researchers, academics, designers, and others to discuss these issues from various perspectives. This Special Issue invites original submissions not under consideration elsewhere. Authors are requested to contribute essays on innovative and significant scientific contributions, current research initiatives, experimental results, and recent advancements relevant to the following topics:

• Lightweight cryptographic algorithms and protocols;
• Authentication, authorization, and accounting;
• Authentication solutions for a zero-trust environment;
• Novel threats and solutions for smart authentication;
• Post-quantum cryptography;
• Cryptographic verification solutions;
• Multi-factor authentication;
• Smart identification mechanisms;
• Advanced digital signatures;
• Application-specific authentication solutions;
• Attack detection through cryptanalysis;
• Mathematical foundations of cryptographic algorithms;
• Mathematical models for evaluating cryptographic strength;
• Number theory in cryptographic algorithms;
• Mathematical aspects of post-quantum cryptography.

We look forward to receiving your contributions, especially those that delve into the intricate mathematical fabric underlying cryptographic systems.

Dr. Arijit Karati
Prof. Dr. Chun-I Fan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• information security
• cryptology
• data privacy
• authentication
• anonymous communication
• authorization
• identification
• post-quantum cryptography
• user trust
• digital signature