# All Questions

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### Secure MAC implies that probability of same tags on different messages is negligible

So let any secure MAC (message authentication code) be given. Intuitively, I think it is clear that the probability of getting the same tag on two different messages is very small, i.e. negligible. I ...
1k views

I would like to know how much padding OpenSSL algorithms expect.
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### Symmetric vs. Asymmetric cryptographic approaches to data security

I know the basic differences between Symmetric vs. Asymmetric cryptography, but I'd love to know more details: Exactly why is the asymmetric approach slower than the symmetric? Why does it make ...
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Does the order of a block cipher cascade (e.g. in TrueCrypt) make a difference to the security provided, assuming independant keys? For example: ...
106 views

### How do these figures represent a boolean function?

In the Wikipedia article "Bent functions", there are some figures representing those Bent functions: How do these figures represent a boolean function ?
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### What are the advantages of a static ECDH key?

What are the advantages of using "static-ephemeral ECDH" over "ephemeral-ephemeral ECDH"?
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### When do ECC patents end?

As the topic says, since when can ECC cryptography be freely used? Isn't it widely used because of patents? There is no alternative to it on embedded devices and smart cards. Just to mention: I am ...
230 views

### Encryption of small messages

Some time ago, I asked how to encrypt small messages like e.g., four decimal digit numbers (banking PINs). I've got my answer, but also a warning like it makes no sense as it's easy to guess: Even ...
512 views

### Increasing number of rounds in AES

AES-128 requires 10 rounds ( AES Description, Wikipedia ) However Bruce Schneier has recommended AES-128 use 16 rounds ( Schneier on Security: New Attack on AES ) Could that be implemented as two ...
873 views

### How exactly was the finalist chosen in the NIST AES competition?

I was just reading the Stick Figure Guide to AES and came across an interesting table explaining how the winner was chosen: Unfortunately the NIST site is down so I can't gain further information ...
855 views

### How to hack the new save encryption on ipad for uplink? [closed]

The new iPad version of Uplink appears to be using some newer saving mechanic than the PC/Mac version. Macs and PCs use the REDSHIRT format, but the iPad appears to instead be using ...
112 views

### Is there way to combine secrets first and later split them?

Shamir's Secret Sharing allows a secret to be split into multiple shares so that it can be reconstructed later. Is there a way to do the reverse? Can we combine a few secrets first and later split ...
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### What is the security risk if an encryption key is not random?

Ok, I just jumped into crypto and now struggling with some points… I read lots of resources, most of them mention how important the strength of the encryption key is. However, I could not find much ...
113 views

### Partial encryption of a file?

I want to partially encrypt a large block of data using AES. Meaning: given plaintext[0:1100], I would like to encrypt ...
99 views

### What role plays Quantum Fourier Transformation in Shor's integer factorization algorithm?

I cannot seem to understand the role or goal of Quantum Fourier Transformation in Shor's integer factorization algorithm. Is it used to collapse all quantum states into one, in which it has a factor ...
1k views

### Any efficient text-based steganographic schemes?

While there are sophisticated and efficient steganographic schemes with images as cover available, I am yet ignorant of the existence of any fairly efficient and secure schemes with texts as cover. ...
380 views

### Since it gives negative power, how is rcon(0) calculated in AES?

I'm trying to calculate Rijndael key schedule "Rcon" values manually. I know how to calculate each value with the equation ...
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### Two different approaches for Key Expansion using the AES-256 algorithm?

I am implementing AES 256-bit Algorithm from the Theory given in the book, "Cryptography and Network Security" by Behrouz A. Forouzan. The Algorithm described in the Book in relation to ...
2k views

### Brute forcing CRC-32

I'm working on a cryptosystem which uses IDEA. The designer made the mistake of including a CRC-32B hash of the password unencrypted in the header, so that the system can quickly reject bad ...
1k views

### Understanding CRC

There are zillions of articles describing CRC. What can I read to (more deeply) understand what's really going on? Both from an algebraic perspective and a bit-manipulation perspective, I'd like to ...
603 views

### Necessity of Randomness of Salts?

Given the desire to have unique salts for each user of your system, is it actually necessary to create a cryptographically-random salt for each user? If your system already has some other unique user ...
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On page 11, definition 2 of "Simultaneous Hardcore Bits and Cryptography Against Memory Attacks", the paper outlines the following steps (PK,SK) public key and secret key are generated by defender ...
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### Cryptanalysis not based on method used to encrypt? [closed]

When doing cryptanalysis on RSA or something number theory based, there are various attacks that all seem to involve number theory (Wikipedia: RSA_(algorithm) ~ Attacks_against_plain_RSA). Similarly, ...
298 views

### Initialization Vector Properties

This is a multi-layer problem, and I want to take you through the whole thing rather than just asking about IVs. Bear with me. Also, all code below is in Common Lisp because that's what I'm using, but ...
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### Encoding numbers that can be decoded mentally?

I have a lot of objects, all of which need a particular number tagged on them so I can quickly tell the customer accordingly. But the problem is that the customer should not know what these numbers ...
287 views

### Solid summary of what encryption remains strong after recent events [closed]

Following the recent government hacking (and subsequent news and fallout), I'm wondering what crypto-systems remain strong (and why) and what crypto-systems were exploited too heavily to be reliable. ...
195 views

### Hill Cipher - Unknown plaintext attack, known key [duplicate]

I was wondering if I have the key and the encrypted Hill Cipher message(s). I can definitely figure out the charset involved. But the order is missing. Assuming that I use 37 modulo or higher. How ...
29k views

### Technical feasibility of decrypting https by replacing the computer's PRNG

Intel has an on-chip RdRand function which supposedly bypasses the normally used entropy pool for /dev/urandom and directly injects output. Now rumors are going on that Intel works together with the ...
335 views

### Blockwise Montgomery multiplication

I have to implement a 256*256 bit Montgomery multiplier for pairing computations. The straightforward approach is to use a bit-serial version, but I would like to utilize the built-in 64*64 bits ...
3k views

### PBKDF2WithHmacSHA512 Vs. PBKDF2WithHmacSHA1

I'm working on a Java authentication subsystem that specs the storage of passwords in the DB as PBKDF2-generated hashes, and I'm now trying to decide whether I ...
319 views

### What kind of machine can generate 100-400 digits prime number? RSA

The 64 bit machine's biggest number can be 2^63 (9,223,372,036,854,775,807). So what kind of a monstrous machine can generate 100-400 digits prime number? I probably don't understand something, so ...
378 views

### Can one build a one-way function from AES?

We change the AES block cipher encryption: we delete the key schedule algorithm the user now provides a string of 1408 bits we divide the string to 11 sub keys, and use them directly in the ...
143 views

### PGP encryption options

I recently began using PGP desktop and found several options for my encryption capabilities. Which of these (AES, Cast, Triple DES, TwoFish, IDEA) is the most recent, firstly, secondly may the NSA not ...
3k views

### How does GCM (Galois/Counter Mode) work? [closed]

Can somebody explain how this mode works? What view has cipher text and how does it help to authenticate input’s data?