In this episode, Henry de Valence from the Zcash Foundation discusses strong crypto libraries, the Zebra Zcash client, and privacy-preserving contact tracing protocols. They explore the challenges of developing crypto libraries in Rust and the implementation of Ristretto. They also talk about the role of a cryptographic researcher, decentralized contact tracing, and compatibility between different proposals.
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Quick takeaways
The TCN coalition is developing a protocol for decentralized contact tracing using Bluetooth technology that ensures privacy and interoperability.
Privacy-preserving contact tracing protocols focus on respecting user privacy by using techniques like Bluetooth communication and anonymous data sharing.
Cryptography plays a vital role in secure contact tracing protocols, protecting user privacy and maintaining the integrity of the system.
Deep dives
The TCN coalition: A privacy-preserving contact tracing protocol
The TCN coalition is a group of organizations working on a common protocol for decentralized contact tracing using Bluetooth technology. The goal is to create a standard for Bluetooth communication that allows users to send notifications to potential contacts without compromising privacy. The protocol uses temporary contact numbers (TCN), which are pseudo-random numbers generated by devices. Users broadcast these numbers over Bluetooth and record the numbers they receive. Later, if a user tests positive or wants to send a notification, they can upload the relevant data to a relay server, which anonymizes and distributes the information to potential contacts. The protocol ensures that the relay server learns nothing about the social graph or the identities of the users. The TCN coalition is working on finalizing the protocol and aiming for interoperability with other decentralized contact tracing solutions.
The importance of privacy in contact tracing efforts
Privacy is a key concern in contact tracing efforts. The TCN coalition, along with other projects, is focused on developing privacy-preserving contact tracing protocols that don't require tracking users' locations or personal information. The aim is to supplement traditional contact tracing methods with automated technology that respects user privacy. By using techniques such as Bluetooth communication and anonymous data sharing, these protocols allow users to receive notifications about potential contacts without compromising their identity or social graph. The TCN coalition is dedicated to building a system that is transparent, opt-in, and designed to prevent scope creep or misuse of data.
The role of cryptography in contact tracing protocols
Cryptography plays a vital role in contact tracing protocols like the one developed by the TCN coalition. The protocols rely on cryptographic techniques to generate and verify temporary contact numbers (TCN), which are used for Bluetooth communication between devices. These protocols ensure that the relay server, which distributes notifications, remains secure and doesn't have access to users' personal information or social graph. The use of cryptography helps protect user privacy and maintain the integrity of the contact tracing system. By implementing privacy-preserving cryptography, the TCN coalition aims to build a robust and secure contact tracing solution.
Interoperability and collaboration in contact tracing efforts
Interoperability and collaboration are essential in the development of contact tracing protocols. The TCN coalition is working towards making their protocol compatible with other decentralized contact tracing solutions, such as the one proposed by Apple and Google. This collaboration and interoperability ensure that different contact tracing applications can communicate and share data securely, without compromising user privacy. By creating a common protocol, the TCN coalition aims to foster cooperation among various projects and work towards a unified approach to privacy-preserving contact tracing.
The challenges and future of contact tracing
The field of contact tracing is constantly evolving, and there are still challenges to overcome. One of the key challenges is ensuring widespread adoption and trust in contact tracing applications. Efforts like the TCN coalition are focused on building user-friendly systems that prioritize privacy. The future of contact tracing lies in the development of decentralized, privacy-preserving solutions that are effective, scalable, and trusted by users. Collaborative efforts and continuous improvement in protocols and technologies will be crucial in achieving this goal and effectively combating infectious diseases.
In this week's episode, we chat with Henry de Valence from the Zcash Foundation. We discuss what makes for a strong crypto library, some of the work he has been doing at the ZF and he shares an update about the Zebra Zcash client. We also learn about the TCN Coalition, a group he is working with that aims to build and evaluate privacy-preserving contact tracing protocols - an important tool in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
In a recent blog post, ToB announced some important updates to Echidna, their smart contract fuzzer. Echidna is one of the tools that the team at Trail of Bits uses the most in their smart contract audits - it has been used in almost 35% of their smart contract audits over the past two years. Including the audits they did for MakerDAO, 0x, and Balancer.
In this update to the fuzzer, they have streamlined integration with complex Truffle projects and the tool now support smart contracts written in Vyper. Thay have also removed the need to write Echidna-specific tests and can automatically fuzz assert statements in Solidity.