cfry@watdcsu.waterloo.edu (C.Fry - Inst. Computer Research) (11/30/88)
Minimum Disclosure Proofs of Knowledge
by
Prof. Gilles Brassard
of
Universite de Montreal
Abstract
Assume I have found a proof of Fermat's last theorem. How could
I convince you of this without disclosing anything about my proof
beyond its existence and my knowledge of it? More generally, let
us say that an information is verifiable if its correctness can
be established efficiently by use of a public verification pro-
cedure. In order to convince you that I have the verifiable in-
formation I claim to have, I could simply show it to you and let
you run the verification procedure. This would be a maximum dis-
closure proof of this knowledge because it results in your learn-
ing all the information.
I will discuss general minimum disclosure proof techniques.
These allow me to convince you beyond any reasonable doubt that I
have the information I claim, but in a way that does not help you
determine this information. Using such techniques, I can con-
vince you, for instance, that I know the factors of a given large
integer without helping you factor it, or that I know an isomor-
phism between two given graphs without helping you determine any
such isomorphism. This technique extends to the case of proba-
bilistically verifiable information.
The talk will be self-contained: no prior background on cryptog-
raphy or zero-knowledge is required.
DATE: Wednesday, December 7, 1988
TIME: 3:30 p.m.
PLACE: University of Waterloo, Davis Centre, Room 1302
Everyone is welcome. Refreshments served.