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Savitribai Phule Pune University
2019 Pattern
( As Per New Revised Syllabus )
ScoreBooster
For
Blockchain Technology
Semester- VII
Computer Engineering
-: Syllabus Topic :-
:-
Unit I Mathematical Foundation for Blockchain
Syllabus Topics :
Cryptography: Symmetric Key Cryptography and Asymmetric Key Cryptography, Elliptic
Curve Cryptography (ECC), Cryptographic Hash Functions: SHA256, Digital Signature
Algorithm (DSA), Merkel Trees.
Unit II Feature Engineering
Syllabus Topics :
History, Centralized Vs. Decentralized Systems, Layers of Blockchain: Application Layer,
Execution Layer, Semantic Layer, Propagation Layer, Consensus Layer, Why is Block chain
important? Limitations of Centralized Systems, Blockchain Adoption So Far.
-: Imp, Expected & Pyq’s Question :-
:-
Unit I Mathematical Foundation for Blockchain
Imp, Expected & Pyq’s Question :
1. Describe Symmetric Key Encryption with neat diagram. [5]
2. Differentiate between symmetric and asymmetric key cryptography. [5]
3. Differentiate asymmetric and symmetric key cryptography. [5]
4. Discuss elliptic curve cryptography. [5]
5. Illustrate Elliptic Curve Cryptography. [6]
6. List and explain advantages of ECC. [5]
7. Explain working of SHA 256 Algorithm. [6]
8. What is hashing? Explain role of hashing in Blockchain. [5]
9. Justify the importance of Hashing in Block Chain. [4]
10. Discuss role of hashing in Blockchain. [5]
11. Discuss the properties of hash function. [5]
12. Explain digital signature algorithm. [5]
13. Describe Digital Signature & Verification steps in Digital Signature Algorithm. [4]
14. Explain DSA key generation and verification. [5]
15. What is Merkle tree? Explain with diagram. [5]
16. What is Merkle tree? Explain the structure of merkle tree. [5]
17. What are the benefits of Merkle tree in Blockchain. [5]
18. List and discuss benefits of Merkel tree. [5]
Unit II Feature Engineering
Imp, Expected & Pyq’s Question :
1. Discuss evolution of Blockchain. [5]
2. Write a note on Evolution of Block Chain. [4]
3. Differentiate between centralized and decentralized systems. [5]
4. What is decentralized system? Explain with diagram. [5]
5. Discuss various limitations of centralized system with respect to Decentralized
system. [6]
6. Discuss limitations of centralised systems. [5]
7. Write a note on: i) Application layer [6]
8. What is the Execution Layer in Blockchain? Explain its role in transaction
processing. [5]
9. Explain semantic Layer in Blockchain. [5]
10. Write a note on: ii) Propagation layer [6]
11. Explain propagation layer in blockchain. [5]
12. Explain consensus Layer in Blockchain. [5]
13. List and Explain algorithms of Consensus layer. [5]
14. Discuss importance of Blockchain. [5]
15. Why Blockchain is important? [5] [Duplicate — already covered above]
16. List & Explain features of Block Chain. [4]
17. Comment on “Feasibility of an Online Voting System Implementation” using Block
Chain Technology. [5]
18. Briefly explain how blockchain has been adopted across different industries. [5]
Unit 1 : Mathematical Foundation for Blockchain
Symmetric Key Cryptography
Pyq Question:
Describe Symmetric Key Encryption with neat diagram. [5]
Introduction:
Symmetric key cryptography is a type of encryption where the same key is used for
both encryption and decryption of the data.
It is also known as secret key cryptography because the key used must be kept
confidential between sender and receiver.
This method is fast and efficient for large amounts of data, making it suitable for
private communication.
Definition:
Symmetric Key Encryption is a cryptographic method where the sender and receiver
use the same shared secret key for converting plaintext into ciphertext and vice
versa.
If the key is known to a third party, the entire communication can be compromised,
hence securing the key is critical.
Working Process:
The sender encrypts the original message (plaintext) using the shared key to
convert it into an unreadable format (ciphertext).
The receiver, using the same shared secret key, decrypts the ciphertext to retrieve
the original message.
The encryption and decryption algorithms are mathematically linked but require the
same key for successful operation.
Both parties must exchange the key securely before communication begins, which
is a major challenge in symmetric systems.
Features of Symmetric Key Cryptography:
It is computationally faster and less resource-intensive compared to asymmetric
key cryptography.
The confidentiality of the message is ensured as long as the key remains secret and
unchanged.
It supports both block cipher and stream cipher encryption techniques.
Symmetric algorithms are usually simple to implement and suitable for real-time
applications like video streaming and file encryption.
Common Algorithms used:
DES (Data Encryption Standard) – an older block cipher encryption algorithm that
encrypts 64-bit blocks using a 56-bit key.
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) – a widely used modern symmetric encryption
algorithm supporting key sizes of 128, 192, or 256 bits.
RC4 – a stream cipher used in SSL/TLS protocols but now considered insecure for
some applications.
Blowfish and Twofish – symmetric key algorithms known for their speed and
effectiveness in data protection.
Security Considerations:
Key management is a critical issue as the same key must be securely shared and
stored.
If an attacker gains access to the key, all past and future messages encrypted with
it can be decrypted.
Symmetric encryption is not scalable for a large number of users, as each pair of
users requires a unique key.
Applications:
Used in encrypting files and folders on computer systems for privacy and security.
Common in secure communications protocols like HTTPS (SSL/TLS) and Virtual
Private Networks (VPNs).
Often used in combination with asymmetric encryption to exchange keys securely in
hybrid cryptosystems.
Diagram:
The working of symmetric key encryption can be explained with the following block
diagram.
diagram :
Explanation of Diagram:
The sender sends a plaintext message to the encryption algorithm, combining it with
a shared secret key to generate ciphertext.
This ciphertext travels across the insecure communication channel to the receiver.
The receiver uses the same shared secret key to decrypt the ciphertext and get
back the original plaintext.
The diagram clearly shows both encryption and decryption occurring using the same
key, representing symmetric encryption.
Advantages:
Simple and fast processing makes it efficient for encrypting large data sets.
Requires less computational power than asymmetric cryptography, suitable for
devices with limited resources.
Reliable for applications where both parties already trust each other and can
securely share the key.
Limitations:
Key distribution is a major challenge; secure key exchange must be done
beforehand.
Lack of scalability, as the number of required keys increases exponentially with
more users.
Compromise of the key means complete loss of confidentiality for all messages
encrypted with that key.
Asymmetric Key Cryptography
Pyq Question:
Q1) a) Differentiate between symmetric and asymmetric key cryptography using
table. [5]
Q1) b) Differentiate asymmetric and symmetric key cryptography. [5]
Definition:
Asymmetric Key Cryptography uses a key pair: one key (public) is used to encrypt
the message, and the other key (private) is used to decrypt it.
Each user has a unique key pair, and data encrypted with one key can only be
decrypted using the other.
Working Principle:
A sender encrypts the message using the recipient’s public key. This message can
only be decrypted by the recipient using their private key.
The public key is distributed openly, while the private key must be stored securely
by the owner.
This system ensures confidentiality and can also provide authentication using digital
signatures.
Asymmetric encryption is slower than symmetric encryption but provides better
security in open networks.
Features of Asymmetric Key Cryptography:
Uses two distinct but mathematically linked keys: a public key and a private key.