Release 3.3.0
Changes
New Features
In this version, we have significantly improved the usability of the CKKS
scheme in Microsoft SEAL and many of these improvements apply to the BFV
scheme as well. Homomorphic operations that are based on key switching,
i.e., relinearization and rotation, do not consume any noise budget (BFV)
or impact accuracy (CKKS). The implementations of these operations are
significantly simplified and unified, and no longer use bit decomposition,
so decomposition bit count is gone. Moreover, fresh ciphertexts now have
lower noise. These changes have an effect on the API and it will
be especially worthwhile for users of older versions of the library to study
the examples and comments in
native/examples/3_levels.cpp (C++) or
dotnet/examples/3_Levels.cs (C#).
The setup of EncryptionParameters
has been made both easier and safer
(see API Changes below).
The examples in native/examples/ and
dotnet/examples/ have been redesigned to better teach
the multiple technical concepts required to use Microsoft SEAL correctly and
efficiently, and more compactly demonstrate the API.
API Changes
Deleted header files:
- native/defaultparameters.h
New header files:
- native/src/seal/kswitchkeys.h: new base
class forRelinKeys
andGaloisKeys
) - native/src/seal/modulus.h: static helper
functions for parameter selection - native/src/seal/valcheck.h: object validity check
functionality - native/src/seal/util/rlwe.h
In class SEALContext
:
- Replaced
context_data(parms_id_type)
withget_context_data(parms_id_type)
; - Removed
context_data()
; - Added
key_context_data()
,key_parms_id()
,first_context_data()
, and
last_context_data()
; - Added
using_keyswitching()
that indicates whether key switching is supported
in thisSEALContext
; Create(...)
in C++, and constructor in C#, now accepts an optional security
level based on
HomomorphicEncryption.org security standard,
causing it to enforce the specified security level. By default a 128-bit
security level is used.- Added
prev_context_data()
method to classContextData
(doubly linked modulus
switching chain); - In C#
SEALContext
now has a public constructor.
Parameter selection:
- Removed the
DefaultParams
class; - Default
coeff_modulus
for the BFV scheme are now accessed through the function
CoeffModulus::BFVDefault(...)
. These moduli are not recommended for the CKKS scheme; - Customized
coeff_modulus
for the CKKS scheme can be created using
CoeffModulus::Create(...)
which takes thepoly_modulus_degree
and a vector of
bit-lengths of the prime factors as arguments. It samples suitable primes close to
2^bit_length and returns a vector ofSmallModulus
elements. PlainModulus::Batching(...)
can be used to sample a prime forplain_modulus
that supportsBatchEncoder
for the BFV scheme.
Other important changes:
- Removed
size_capacity
function and data members fromCiphertext
class; - Moved all validation methods such as
is_valid_for
andis_metadata_valid_for
tovalcheck.h
; - Removed argument
decomposition_bit_count
from methodsrelin_keys(...)
and
galois_keys(...)
in classKeyGenerator
; - It is no longer possible to create more than one relinearization key. This is
to simplify the API and reduce confusion. We have never seen a real use-case where
more relinearization keys would be a good idea; - Added methods to generate an encryption of zero to
Encryptor
; - Added comparison methods and primality check for
SmallModulus
; - Classes
RelinKeys
andGaloisKeys
are now derived from a common base class
KSwitchKeys
; - GoogleTest framework is now included as a Git submodule;
- Numerous bugs have been fixed, particularly in the .NET wrappers.