8.4-8.5,8.7, due on November 6

• The hard part about this reading was still hash functions. I missed the first part of the reading about hash functions, so this is still a little bit cloudy for me. I understand the lectures in class that talk about hashes, but I'm still a little bit behind. So, when the book started discussing hashes as a means of encryption, I read it, but didn't really get it.
• The only part of the reading that I really understood was why the birthday attack works. I understand the logic behind it and I understand that the BSGS method would work better and be more precise. It was fun to read about and see how it works. The last time I heard of the birthday attack (although it was called by some other name) was a couple of years ago and at that time it was presented as only a theory. It was kind of mentioned in casual conversation. Its fun to know exactly why it works.