What are encryption algorithms?
- Information security is full of Encryption algorithms. It is the algorithm we use while converting plain text to ciphertext and vice-versa.
- It is a type of mathematical procedure used to convert data.
How do we perform encryption?
- Encryption is the process of converting plaintext to ciphertext. and Decryption is the process of converting ciphertext to plaintext.
- Let’s take an example- We have a plain text as ‘Hello’ and we want to convert it to ciphertext.
- Using encryption algorithms we convert in the ciphertext.
- For example, if use Caesar cipher to convert it by substituting each letter by the next 3rd letter. This algorithm is only known as the person encrypting the plaintext.
- We get ciphertext as ‘khoor’ and now we send to the receiver and later receiver will decrypt and use the plaintext for further use.
Importance of Encryption algorithms
- Encryption algorithms must be strong enough so that anyone cannot break it because we transfer very important files by encrypting.
- These files may be confidential for some people.
- Hackers can misuse the data by decrypting it.
Top 5 Encryption Algorithms
- Triple DES
- AES
- RSA
- BLOWFISH
- TWOFISH
1. Triple DES
Triple DES uses 3 keys and 3 executions of the DES algorithm. The function follows an encrypt-decrypt-encrypt (EDE) sequence.
C = E(K3, D(K2, E(K1,P)))
By reversing key you can decrypt data.
There is no cryptographic significance to the use of decryption for the second stage of triple-DES encryption. With three distinct keys, 3DES has an effective key length of 168 bits.
FIPS 46-3 also allows for the use of two keys, with K1 K3. This provides for the key length of 112 bits.
2. AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)
Key Features:
- AES uses a block length of 128 bits and a key length that can be 128,192 or 256 bits.
- Key size can be 8, 32 or 256 bits.
- The algorithm can be performed in 10,12 or 14 rounds.
- Plain text can be of size 4, 16 or 128 bits.
- Expanded key size can be 60 or 240 bits.
AES was introduced to replace DES and triple-DES with an algorithm that is more secure and efficient. It was necessary because DES has theoretical attacks that can be broken easily and DES have demonstrated exhaustive key search attacks. We can use 3-DES but it slow.
AES has a security strength equal to or better than 3DES and significantly faster and efficient. Evaluation criteria included security, computational efficiency, memory requirements, hardware and software suitability, and flexibility.
3. RSA (Rivest–Shamir–Adleman)
RSA scheme is a block cipher in which the plain text and ciphertext are integers between 0 and 1 for some n.
A typical size for n is 1024 bits or 309 decimal digits i.e. n less than 2^1024
Encryption and decryption are of the following form.
For plain text block M and ciphertext block C.
C = M^e modn
M = C^d modn
Both Sender and Receiver should know the value of n. The sender knows the value of e and only the receiver knows the value of d.
Thus, this is a public key encryption algorithm with a public key of PU = {e,n} and a private key of PR = {d,n}.
When we calculate n we choose 2 numbers p and q which are very large prime numbers.
n=pq ; n is the multiplication of p and q.
Since n is the multiplication of very large prime numbers so it becomes very difficult for others to break it.
4. Blowfish
Blowfish is a symmetric block cipher that can be used as a drop-in replacement for DES or IDEA.
It takes a variable-length key. Key size can be in the range of 32 bits to 448 bits. It is ideal for both domestic and exportable use.
Blowfish provides a good encryption rate in software and effective cryptanalysis of it has been found until now. It can be used in a wide variety of applications. This algorithm is used in E-mail encryption tools. It also used in backup software, password management tools, and TiVo.
5. Twofish
Twofish is a well-known encryption algorithm and is used in cryptography and steganography. It is derived from the blowfish algorithm.
Twofish is a 128-bit block cipher that accepts a variable-length key which can range up to 256 bits. Twofish is a relatively modern 128-bit block cipher which is a replacement for AES.
It is fast on both 32-bit and 8-bit CPUs. this algorithm is also very flexible and can be used in many network applications where little or no RAM or ROM is present. This algorithm uses Feistel Network as main part.
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