What is DES (Data Encryption Standard)?
User and data security criterion and standard. When it comes to user and data security, this is the standard, or set of rules and principles guiding through symmetrical, encryption algorithm, using short key lenghts. It can be hack-vulnerable, often chosen for its high rate of compatibility (even with older/legacy or inherited systems).
Data Encryption Standard (DES), is also known as FIPS 46-2. It is a computer security measure and utility, used for the successful and secure encrypting (enciphering) and decrypting (deciphering) of binary coded information. This norm or Federal Information Processing Standard is used and intended for computer, data and user security information, as well as having some weak-spots and performance issues (notoriously slower). Part of the measures and standards to ensure protection of data, access et al. DES or Data Encryption Standard is best described as a an information encryption tool and device, or method, selected and applied as the official Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS). Popular globally and in international use and acceptance in development, programming, applications and contexts. It contains a symmetric-key algorithm, using a 56-bit key. Some vulnerabilities to/for back-door attacks, needing more attention to block ciphers, as well as cryptography analysis. Data ‘encrypted’ using this standard, can be recovered from cipher only by using exactly the same key used to encipher it. It can be used or encountered in lots of different contexts, environments, including software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof.
For the most part it has been superseded by the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). It can also be adapted and used in and for secure environments, less vulnerable to attack. In its essence and at its very core, it is an algorithm taking a fixed-length string of plaintext bits, transforming it with a series of complex operations into another cipher-text bit-string of the same length. Needing a different key to decrypt (thus more secure).
Distinguishing between DES as a standard and DES algorithm or DEA (the Data Encryption Algorithm).
There are alternatives to this in block cipher designs and applications. four modes are called the Electronic Codebook (ECB) mode, the Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) mode, the Cipher Feedback (CFB) mode, and the Output Feedback (OFB) mode. ECB is a direct application of the DES algorithm to encrypt and decrypt data; CBC is an enhanced mode of ECB which chains together blocks of cipher text; CFB uses previously generated cipher text as input to the DES to generate pseudorandom outputs which are combined with the plaintext to produce cipher, thereby chaining together the resulting cipher; OFB is identical to CFB except that the previous output of the DES is used as input in OFB while the previous cipher is used as input in CFB. OFB does not chain the cipher.
Key Exam Points
- Review chapter contents, Practice and Reinforce User and Data Security Basics and Skills, Cryptography and Encryption, Security Standards, Protocols.
- Work through the case-studies and application exam study examples for DES, that help you to gain a better understanding
Related Terms
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
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