Types of Encryption or Security bits | The Cyberbunk

INTRODUCTION-

Security bits is all about safety margins. If you can break "n" rounds of a cipher, you design it with "2n" or "3n" rounds. What we’re learning is that the safety margin of AES is much less than previously believed. And while there is no reason to scrap AES in favor of another algorithm, NIST should increase the number of rounds of all three AES variants. At this point, I suggest AES-128 at 16 rounds, AES-192 at 20 rounds, and AES-256 at 28 rounds. Or maybe even more; we don’t want to be revising the standard again and again.

Security bits-

The fewer rounds a symmetric primitive does, the less complex the relation between the input and output tends to be, and the more likely patterns are to exist between inputs and outputs. Such patterns may be exploited by differential cryptanalysis or variants thereof in order to craft an “attack”, which is any method that violates a security assumption of the primitive. For example, any method to find a preimage of some 256-bit hash function by doing fewer than 2^256 evaluations of the function—or equivalent operations—is labelled an attack. This definition of an attack is only about the operations count, not about practical efficiency. For example, a preimage attack requiring 2^230 operations cannot physically be executed. An algorithm may therefore be broken in theory yet not breakable practically.

128-bit security is often acknowledged as sufficient for most applications, and means that N processors running in parallel would compromise the primitive’s security with latency 2^128/N, or the time required to perform of the order of 2^128 operations by perfectly distributing the workload. If the goal of the attacker is to break at least one 128-bit key out of M instances, then the expected number of operations is not 2128 but 2^128/(NM). For example, if both N and M are equal to 2^20 (around one million), then 2^128/(NM) = 2^88, approximately the age of the universe in nanoseconds (note that testing one candidate key will take much more time than one nanosecond).

Encryption

What Is Encryption?

Encryption is a means of securing digital data using one or more mathematical techniques, along with a password or "key" used to decrypt the information. The encryption process translates information using an algorithm that makes the original information unreadable. The process, for instance, can convert an original text, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. When an authorized user needs to read the data, they may decrypt the data using a binary key. This will convert ciphertext back to plaintext so that the authorized user can access the original information.

Encryption is an important way for individuals and companies to protect sensitive information from hacking. For example, websites that transmit credit card and bank account numbers should always encrypt this information to prevent identity theft and fraud. The mathematical study and application of encryption is known as cryptography.

The various encryption types-

The three major encryption types are DES, AES, and RSA. While there are many kinds of encryption - more than can easily be explained here - we will take a look at these three significant types of encryption that consumers use every day. Most of the others are variations on older types, and some are no longer supported or recommended. Tech is evolving every day and even those considered to be modern will be replaced by newer versions at some point.

Just as security tech is taking steps to increase the safety of your information, hackers are finding ways around them. It’s an arms race with your data as the spoils of war. Let’s dive in to popular encryption methods, the history of encryption, and where it’s going next.

DES encryption-

Accepted as a standard of encryption in the 1970s, DES encryption is no longer considered to be safe on its own. It encrypts just 56-bits of data at a time and it was found to be easily hacked not long after its introduction. It has, however, served as the standard upon which future, more-secure encryption tools were based.

3DES

A more modern 3DES is a version of block cipher used today. Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES) works as its name implies. Instead of using a single 56-bit key, it uses three separate 56-bit keys for triple protection.

The drawback to 3DES is that it takes longer to encrypt data. Also, the shorter block lengths are encrypted three times, but they can still be hacked. Banks and businesses still rely on it at this point in time, but newer forms may soon phase out this version.

When should use you use DES encryption?

You probably won’t use DES or even 3DES on your own today. Banking institutions and other businesses may use 3DES internally or for their private transmissions. The industry standard has moved away from it, however, and it’s no longer being incorporated into the newest tech products.

AES encryption-

One of the most secure encryption types, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is used by governments and security organizations as well as everyday businesses for classified communications. AES uses “symmetric” key encryption. Someone on the receiving end of the data will need a key to decode it.

AES differs from other encryption types in that it encrypts data in a single block, instead of as individual bits of data. The block sizes determine the name for each kind of AES encrypted data:

• AES-128 encrypts blocks of a 128-bit size
• AES-192 encrypts blocks of a 192-bit size
• AES-256 encrypts blocks of a 256-bit size

In addition to having different block sizes, each encryption method has a different number of rounds. These rounds are the processes of changing a plaintext piece of data into encrypted data or ciphered text. AES-128, for example, uses 10 rounds, and AES-256 uses 14 rounds.

When should you use AES encryption?

Most of the data tools available on the market today use AES encryption. Even those that allow you to use other methods with their programs recommend the AES standard. It works in so many applications, and it’s still the most widely-accepted and secure encryption method for the price. In fact, you’re probably using it without even knowing it.

RSA Encryption-

Another popular encryption standard is “Rivest-Shamir-Adleman” or RSA. It is widely used for data sent online and relies on a public key to encrypt the data. Those on the receiving end of the data will have their own private key to decode the messages. It’s proven to be a secure way to send information between people who may not know each other and want to communicate without compromising their personal or sensitive data.

 When should you use RSA encryption?

You’ll need to know a little bit about using RSA to make it part of your routine, but once established, it has many uses. Some people use it to verify a digital signature and ensure the person they are communicating with is really who they say they are. It takes a long time to encrypt data this way, however, and isn’t practical for large or numerous files.

Additional encryption types-

There are other encryption services and tools available, including the fishes (Twofish, Blowfish, and Threefish). They use different tech to encrypt data and are popular among many coders and developers. They have also been integral to password protection software products on the market. They have no patent and can be used license-free by anyone.

Consumers shouldn’t be expected to understand everything about encryption or know how to encrypt personally. Just the same, even a limited knowledge of encryption can come in handy when selecting and buying privacy and security products and tools. Follow these rules to get the best outcome:

• Avoid any company who can’t (or won’t) share what encryption method they use

• Research unfamiliar types. Some unknown encryption tools are a more modern version of standard types

• Avoid original DES encryption. It does not meet standards

• 3DES is being transitioned out of advanced tools and products. Avoid it if you can

If you are unsure about something you read concerning encryption, don’t hesitate to reach out to a computer expert in your area or the manufacturer of your device.

The future of data encryption-

Encryption is used in the tech products and tools we buy every day, and it will continue to be a bedrock of security for everything from computer games to our VOIP (voice over internet protocol) phone calls and video chats. If it can be sent or stored, it will likely be encrypted or have access to encrypted data.

As technology changes, so will the types of encryption that are developed and used. Hackers are becoming more sophisticated in their efforts, keeping the professionals that create these secure tools busy with ways to stay ahead of bad actors.

You can be confident that most reputable software and hardware tools will be safe to use as long as you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and keep your equipment updated and maintained. While incidents are bound to happen, we can still rely on today’s most popular encryption types.

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