The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a symmetric encryption algorithm adopted by the U.S. Government for securing sensitive but unclassified information. This standard was developed through an open competition, announced by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 1997, aiming to replace the aging Data Encryption Standard (DES).
History
- 1997 - NIST announces a public competition to find a new encryption algorithm to replace DES.
- 1998 - NIST publishes the requirements for the new encryption standard, and 15 submissions were received.
- 2000 - After extensive analysis and public scrutiny, NIST selects Rijndael, designed by Joan Daemen and Vincent Rijmen, as the winner.
- 2001 - The AES becomes effective as FIPS PUB 197 (Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 197).
Algorithm Details
AES is a block cipher with a fixed block size of 128 bits and supports key lengths of 128, 192, or 256 bits. Here are some key points about the algorithm:
- Block Size: 128 bits.
- Key Sizes: 128, 192, or 256 bits.
- Rounds: The number of rounds depends on key length:
- 10 rounds for 128-bit keys
- 12 rounds for 192-bit keys
- 14 rounds for 256-bit keys
- Substitution-Permutation Network: AES uses a series of substitution and permutation steps to transform plaintext into ciphertext.
- Security: AES has been extensively analyzed and is considered secure against all known attacks when used correctly.
Usage and Adoption
- AES is widely used in various security applications, including secure communication protocols like SSL/TLS, VPN, and secure file transfer protocols.
- It is also employed in hardware security modules, smart cards, and other devices requiring high levels of security.
- Many organizations and governments around the world have adopted AES for data encryption.
Advantages
- Efficiency: AES is designed to be efficient in both hardware and software.
- Security: It has stood up to rigorous academic scrutiny with no significant weaknesses found.
- Flexibility: The ability to use different key sizes makes it adaptable to various security needs.
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