A very efficient recursive algorithm for generating nearly random provable primes is presented. The expected time for generating a prime is only slightly greater than the expected time required for generating a pseudo-prime of the same size that passes the Miller-Rabin test for only one base. Therefore our algorithm is even faster than presently-used algorithms for generating only pseudo-primes because several Miller-Rabin tests with independent bases must be applied for achieving a sufficient confidence level. Heuristic arguments suggest that the generated primes are close to uniformly distributed over the set of primes in the specified interval. Security constraints on the prime parameters of certain cryptographic systems are discussed, and in particular a detailed analysis of the iterated encryption attack on the RSA public-key cryptosystem is presented. The prime generation algorithm can easily be modified to generate nearly random primes or RSA-moduli that satisfy t...

In this paper, we present a simple method for generating random-based signatures when random number generators are either unavailable or of suspected quality (malicious or accidental).

This paper gives a survey on cryptographic primitives based on class groups of imaginary quadratic orders (IQ cryptography, IQC). We present IQC versions of several well known cryptographic primitives, and we explain, why these primitives are secure if one assumes the hardness of the underlying problems. We give advice on the selection of the cryptographic parameters and show the impact of this advice on the eciency of some IQ cryptosystems.