The (C+V)° laboratory carries out research on computer system security in the areas of defensive and offensive computing; more precisely the techniques concerned are those of cryptology (information protection), steganography (protection of the communication channels) and virology (virus and antivirus analysis).
This research group is leading the fight at an international level against dangerous computing practices.
The Operational Cryptology and Virology Laboratory’s core research activity deals with computer security - mostly in virology and cryptology - in the field of defensive computing applications but in connection with offensive computer security (computer warfare).
Emphasizing both the theoretical approach - to maintain a high academic skills - and applied research inspired by problems (from the government sphere, but also from the industrial one), the main objective is not only to understand the current attacks but also and especially to predict and invent the future attacks. This proactive approach aims at anticipating the threat (defensive area) but in a context of evolution of French doctrine, to investigate towards both a theoretical and practical arsenal in the offensive area (government sphere). The key word in both areas is the operational capability.
The laboratory retains strong links not only with the Department of Defense, but also with the Departments of Justice and Interior. This applies to both the thematic part of the research activity and the creation and maintenance of a secure environment for conducting this research activity in respect of the principal regulations.