Supervisors

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Abstract

This project would utilise the process algebra CSP and associated model checker FDR to explore various types of threat and how they might successfully compromise a distributed ledger. This type of modelling would indicate possible attacks on a distributed ledger, and could guide subsequent review of actual designs and testing strategies for implementations. The modelling approach would be based on the crypto-protocol analysis techniques already developed for this modelling and analysis environment, and would seek to replicate the approach for a distributed ledger system. Novel work would include developing the model of the distributed ledger, considering which components are important, formulating various attacker models and also formulating the security requirements / properties to be assessed using this model-checking based approach.

Requirements: In order to succeed in this project students would need to have a working knowledge of the machine readable semantics of CSP and also the model checker FDR. An appreciation of threat models and capability will need to be developed.