An optimized 128-bit cellular automata-based hash function for authentication of data at rest and in transit

The cryptographic hash functions are the most fundamental cryptographic concept. These functions are used as basic building blocks for digital signatures and message authentication. Boolean functions are the core of hash functions. These functions are expected to provide pseudo-randomness as well as input sensitivity. Cellular automata are a form of Boolean function that exhibits strong cryptography properties as well as chaotic behavior. This paper proposes a hash function, designed on the principle of cellular automata. The proposed algorithm is secure and meets the requirements for a successful hashing scheme. The hash function has strong statistical and cryptographic characteristics, according to the findings of the avalanche test and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Statistical Test Suite. The modularity of different operations of this algorithm makes it suitable for a high-capacity processing environment to produce efficient performance

Cellular Automata with Synthetic Image A Secure Image Communication with Transform Domain

    Image encryption has attained a great attention due to the necessity to safeguard confidential images. Digital documents, site images, battlefield photographs, etc. need a secure approach for sharing in an open channel. Hardware – software co-design is a better option for exploiting unique features to cipher the confidential images. Cellular automata (CA) and synthetic image influenced transform domain approach for image encryption is proposed in this paper. The digital image is initially divided into four subsections by applying integer wavelet transform. Confusion is accomplished on low – low section of the transformed image using CA rules 90 and 150. The first level of diffusion with consecutive XORing operation of image pixels is initiated by CA rule 42. A synthetic random key image is developed by extracting true random bits generated by Cyclone V field programmable gate array 5CSEMA5F31C6. This random image plays an important role in second level of diffusion. The proposed confusion and two level diffusion assisted image encryption approach has been validated through the entropy, correlation, histogram, number of pixels change rate, unified average change intensity, contrast and encryption quality analyses

Cellular Automata and Randomization: A Structural Overview

The chapter overviews the methods, algorithms, and architectures for random number generators based on cellular automata, as presented in the scientific literature. The variations in linear and two-dimensional cellular automata model and their features are discussed in relation to their applications as randomizers. Additional memory layers, functional nonuniformity in space or time, and global feedback are examples of such variations. Successful applications of cellular automata random number/signal generators (both software and hardware) reported in the scientific literature are also reviewed. The chapter includes an introductory presentation of the mathematical (ideal) model of cellular automata and its implementation as a computing model, emphasizing some important theoretical debates regarding the complexity and universality of cellular automata

Investigations of cellular automata-based stream ciphers

In this thesis paper, we survey the literature arising from Stephan Wolfram\u27s original paper, “Cryptography with Cellular Automata” [WOL86] that first suggested stream ciphers could be constructed with cellular automata. All published research directly and indirectly quoting this paper are summarized up until the present. We also present a novel stream cipher design called Sum4 that is shown to have good randomness properties and resistance to approximation using linear finite shift registers. Sum4 is further studied to determine its effective strength with respect to key size given that an attack with a SAT solver is more efficient than a bruteforce attack. Lastly, we give ideas for further research into improving the Sum4 cipher

Incremental evolution of cellular automata for random number generation

Cellular automata (CA) have been used in pseudorandom number generation for over a decade. Recent studies show that controllable CA (CCA) can generate better random sequences than conventional one-dimensional (1-d) CA and compete with two-dimensional (2-d) CA. Yet the structural complexity of CCA is higher than that of 1-d PCA. It would be good if CCA can attain good randomness quality with the least structural complexity. In this paper, we evolve PCA/CCA to their lowest complexity level using genetic algorithms (GAs). Meanwhile, the randomness quality and output efficiency of PCA/CCA are also evolved. The evolution process involves two algorithms a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) and an algorithm for incremental evolution. A set of PCA/CCA are evolved and compared in randomness, complexity, and efficiency. The results show that without any spacing, CCA could generate good random number sequences that could pass DIEHARD. And, to obtain the same randomness quality, the structural complexity of CCA is not higher than that of 1-d CA. Furthermore, the methodology developed could be used to evolve other CA or serve as a yardstick to compare different types of CA