Discrete Logarithm in Cryptography
🔐 Discrete Logarithms in Cryptography
📘 What is a Discrete Logarithm?
In mathematics, the discrete logarithm problem (DLP) is the foundation of many cryptographic
algorithms.
Definition:
Given a prime number pp, a generator gg, and a number yy, the discrete logarithm is the integer
xx such that:
gx≡ymod pg^x \equiv y \mod p
Unlike regular logarithms (in real numbers), solving this in a modular arithmetic setting is
computationally hard — especially when pp is very large.
🔐 Why Discrete Logarithms Matter in Cryptography
The hardness of solving DLP provides security in several public-key cryptographic algorithms.
Easy to compute y=gxmod py = g^x \mod p, but very difficult to find xx from yy and gg.
🔐 Cryptographic Algorithms Based on DLP
Algorithm Description
🔁 Diffie–Hellman Secure key exchange over insecure channels
🔑 DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm) Signing and verifying data
🔐 ElGamal Encryption Asymmetric encryption based on DLP
🔵 Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) Uses DLP over elliptic curves (ECDLP)
📊 Example (Simple Illustration)
Let’s use small numbers to show how DLP works:
Let p=23p = 23
Generator g=5g = 5
You compute y=gxmod py = g^x \mod p for some xx
If:
53mod 23=125mod 23=105^3 \mod 23 = 125 \mod 23 = 10
Then:
Discrete logarithm of 10 base 5 mod 23 is x=3\text{Discrete logarithm of 10 base 5 mod 23 is } x = 3
But:
Given only g=5g = 5, y=10y = 10, and p=23p = 23, finding xx is hard — especially when pp is
large (2048+ bits in practice).
⚠️Security Based on DLP
The security of algorithms relying on DLP depends on:
Large prime modulus pp
Proper choice of generator gg
Use of cyclic groups with no small subgroups
If DLP could be solved efficiently, the cryptosystems (like Diffie–Hellman or ElGamal) would be
broken.
⚙️Algorithms to Solve DLP (Not Practical for Large pp)
Brute force
Baby-Step Giant-Step
Pollard’s Rho Algorithm
Index Calculus
These only work for small/moderate primes; for large primes (2048+ bits), they're infeasible.
🧮 Elliptic Curve Discrete Logarithm Problem (ECDLP)
ECC is based on a variant:
kP=Q⇒Find k given P and QkP = Q \Rightarrow \text{Find } k \text{ given } P \text{ and } Q
This is the ECDLP, even harder than regular DLP for the same key size — which is why ECC gives
stronger security with smaller keys.
✅ Summary
Concept Explanation
DLP Given g,y,pg, y, p, find xx such that gx≡ymod pg^x \equiv y \mod p
Use in Cryptography Basis of Diffie–Hellman, DSA, ElGamal, ECC
Security Relies on the computational hardness of solving DLP
Algorithms to Solve Brute force, Pollard’s Rho, Baby-Step Giant-Step
ECC Variant ECDLP, even harder than DLP
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