An Introduction to the Theory of Elliptic Curves [pdf]

If this interested you, you might want to check out SafeCurves[1]. I didn't see it mentioned in these slides (likely because it approaches the material at a higher/theoretical level), but ECDLP is not the only determining factor in elliptic curve safety; there are also implementation difficulties that can make ECC unsafe even though attackers cannot solve the ECDLP.

DJ Bernstein maintains the SafeCurves website and explains the foregoing in greater detail; the site also tracks security assessments on specific curves. Some are actively used and others are either not well-studied or are just toy examples.

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1. http://safecurves.cr.yp.to

For someone with no real interest in cryptography, do elliptic curves have any other interesting applications in computer science?

tell me that there's a video of the presentation..