Zero-knowledge simulation of Boolean circuits

  • Authors:
  • Gilles Brassard;Claude Crépeau

  • Affiliations:
  • Univ. de Montre´al, Montre´al, Quebec, Canada;Univ. de Montre´al, Montre´al, Quebec, Canada

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings on Advances in cryptology---CRYPTO '86
  • Year:
  • 1987

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Abstract

A zero-knowledge interactive proof is a protocol by which Alice can convince a polynomially-bounded Bob of the truth of some theorem without giving him any hint as to how the proof might proceed. Under cryptographic assumptions, we give a general technique for achieving this goal for every problem in NP. This extends to a presumably larger class, which combines the powers of non-determinism and randomness. Our protocol is powerful enough to allow Alice to convince Bob of theorems for which she does not even have a proof: it is enough for Alice to convince herself probabilistically of a theorem, perhaps thanks to her knowledge of some trap-door information, in order for her to be able to convince Bob as well, without compromising the trap-door in any way.