Project description
New generation of cryptographic protocols for privacy and integrity of computation
Over one third of EU internet users rely on cloud services to save documents, pictures, music and other files, irrespective of the device. The cloud also facilitates the sharing of information with other internet users. The big questions now are about privacy and integrity. The ERC-funded PICOCRYPT project will explore ways to ensure that computing devices store and process data on untrusted machines without risks for privacy and integrity and without the need of trusting these machines. Specifically, it will invent a new generation of cryptographic protocols for computing securely on untrusted machines in a way that is cost-effective and suitable for future application scenarios. The project will look for protocols that support a range of applications.
Objective
Due to phenomena like the ubiquity of the Internet and cloud computing it is increasingly common to store and process data on third-party machines. In spite of its attractive aspects, this trend raises a number of security concerns, including: How to ensure that the results computed by third parties are correct (integrity) and no unauthorized information is leaked (privacy)? The current way to deal with these problems is to trust third parties under legislation guarantees. This approach assumes that third-party machines stay honest all time, even if they get hacked! This is unrealistic and contradicted by the numerous security incidents that are regularly reported. In contrast, our vision is that any computing device must be able to store and process data on untrusted machines without risking for privacy and integrity and without the need of trusting these machines. Recent trends in cryptography promise solutions to realize our vision but the existing generation of protocols is limited due to its high costs and its poor support of emerging applications such as data streams processing. The grand challenge of this project is to invent a new generation of cryptographic protocols for computing securely on untrusted machines in a way that is cost-effective and suitable for future application scenarios. Towards this goal we will design new methods to scale up the applicability of cryptographic protocols. One of our key approaches will be trading generality for efficiency. While existing solutions are either general but impractical or efficient but of limited applicability, in PICOCRYPT we will look for protocols that support a wide range of applications while staying efficient. The PICOCRYPT solutions will enable a paradigm shift in the way privacy and integrity will be enforced and will have impact in the IT world by making remote computing safer not only for citizens but also for public and private organizations that due to the current risks renounce to these services.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28223 Pozuelo De Alarcon
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.