Tagged Questions

0
votes
1answer
80 views

Trapdoor implementation

Please refer to this secure index paper. On page#6, a trapdoor is defined as ...
2
votes
5answers
601 views

Are there hash algorithms with variable length output?

I understand that for example MD5 produces a 128 bit hash value from a given text of variable size. My question is if there is a hash-like algorithm that will produce a hash value where one can ...
0
votes
2answers
154 views

Idea for user/pass hashing to prevent rainbow tables, would it work?

I'm very new to cryptography (and security in general, for that matter), but I had an idea that I'm sure is very flawed, but is worth asking. If a computer user, online account, etc, needs to verify a ...
6
votes
1answer
94 views

Abstracting primitives and modes of operation

I am developing a symmetric crypto library and have reached a roadblock. Looking at block ciphers, it is quite obvious that all block ciphers are trivially abstractable as a simple primitive ...
3
votes
1answer
233 views

Do Cryptographic Hashing Algorithms operate only on Integers?

Do all the Cryptographic hashing algorithms operate only on integers (32 bit or 64 bit)? Is there any operation performed on Floating Point Numbers as well? The reason I ask this is because I read ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views

Difference between “Signature Algorithm” and “Signature Hash Algorithm” in X.509

What's the difference between the "Signature Algorithm" and the "Signature Hash Algorithm" found in an X.509 certificate? Why does it need a "Signature Hash Algorithm"? Edit: I'm creating the ...
4
votes
2answers
896 views

SHA-256 “midstate”

Recently I've been trying to implement some Bitcoin-related code, and I've stumbled upon a weird concept, a SHA-256 "midstate". Some explanation is given here. The general concept is that Bitcoin ...
6
votes
3answers
405 views

Counter mode secure hash algorithm

Ever since the SHA-3 competition, I've been wondering if it is possible to create a hash algorithm that is easier to parallelize. The current algorithms all seem to require building a tree of hashes. ...
3
votes
3answers
619 views

How can I create a fixed length output in my hash function?

I've been recently looking into the creation (and theory) of hash functions, however I just can't figure out how to turn a message into something of a fixed length. At the moment, my theory of a hash ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views

Why use an Initialization Vector (IV)?

Why use an Initialization Vector (IV)? How are IV's used? What are the advantages/disadvantages of using an IV? Why use an IV instead of a longer key in which some section of the key is pubic? What ...