Distinguishing and Recovering Generalized Linearized Reed-Solomon Codes

We study the distinguishability of linearized Reed-Solomon (LRS) codes by defining and analyzing analogs of the square-code and the Overbeck distinguisher for classical Reed-Solomon and Gabidulin codes, respectively. Our main results show that the square-code distinguisher works for generalized linearized Reed-Solomon (GLRS) codes defined with the trivial automorphism, whereas the Overbeck-type distinguisher can handle LRS codes in the general setting. We further show how to recover defining code parameters from any generator matrix of such codes in the zero-derivation case. For other choices of automorphisms and derivations simulations indicate that these distinguishers and recovery algorithms do not work. The corresponding LRS and GLRS codes might hence be of interest for code-based cryptography.