After reading chapter 4, evaluate the history of the Data …
After reading chapter 4, evaluate the history of the Data Encryption Standard (DES) and how it has transformed cryptography? You must use at least one scholarly resource and wrote a minimum of 2 pages. The paper must be properly APA formatted. Purchase the answer to view it
Answer
The Data Encryption Standard (DES) is a symmetric-key algorithm that was developed in the early 1970s by the National Bureau of Standards (now called the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST). It was a response to the need for a secure method of encryption to protect sensitive data. In this paper, we will evaluate the history of DES and examine how it has transformed cryptography.
The history of DES can be traced back to the early days of cryptography when encryption methods were relatively simple and primarily based on substitution and transposition techniques. However, as technology advanced and the need for stronger encryption grew, more complex algorithms became necessary. This led to the development of DES.
DES was first published as a federal standard in 1977 and quickly gained popularity as a secure encryption algorithm. It was widely adopted by the U.S. government and became the de facto standard for encryption in the United States. DES was selected over other competing algorithms, such as Lucifer, because of its strong security properties and ease of implementation.
One of the key factors that contributed to the success of DES was its use of a 56-bit key. The size of the key is a critical factor in the security of an encryption algorithm. A larger key size provides greater protection against brute-force attacks, where an attacker attempts to guess the key by systematically trying all possible combinations. However, at the time DES was developed, the limitations of computer processing power meant that a larger key size would have been impractical. Therefore, a compromise was made, and a 56-bit key was chosen as the standard for DES.
DES achieved widespread adoption and was used in a wide range of applications, including financial transactions, email encryption, and secure communication protocols. However, as computing power continued to improve exponentially, it became apparent that the 56-bit key size of DES was no longer sufficient to provide adequate security.
In the late 1990s, the first successful brute-force attack against DES was demonstrated, further highlighting the need for a more secure encryption algorithm. This led to the development of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which replaced DES as the new standard for encryption.
AES uses a larger key size, ranging from 128 to 256 bits, which provides significantly stronger security than DES. In addition, AES utilizes more advanced cryptographic techniques, such as the key expansion and substitution-permutation network, to enhance its security properties. The adoption of AES marked a significant milestone in the evolution of encryption algorithms and represented a major shift towards stronger and more secure cryptographic standards.
Despite being replaced by AES, the legacy of DES still continues to influence modern cryptography. The design principles and techniques used in DES have been incorporated into subsequent encryption algorithms, and its influence can be seen in the development of block ciphers, such as Triple DES and Blowfish.
In conclusion, the history of DES has demonstrated the evolution of cryptography and the constant need for stronger encryption algorithms. While DES was a significant advancement at the time of its development, its key size limitations and vulnerabilities to brute-force attacks eventually led to its replacement by AES. Despite its obsolescence, DES has had a lasting impact on the field of cryptography and has paved the way for the development of more secure encryption algorithms.