Survey and Benchmark of Block Ciphers for Wireless Sensor Networks

Cryptographic algorithms play an important role in the security architecture of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Choosing the most storage- and energy-efficient block cipher is essential, due to the facts that these networks are meant to operate without human intervention for a long period of time with little energy supply, and that available storage is scarce on these sensor nodes. However, to our knowledge, no systematic work has been done in this area so far.We construct an evaluation framework in which we first identify the candidates of block ciphers suitable for WSNs, based on existing literature and authoritative recommendations. For evaluating and assessing these candidates, we not only consider the security properties but also the storage- and energy-efficiency of the candidates. Finally, based on the evaluation results, we select the most suitable ciphers for WSNs, namely Skipjack, MISTY1, and Rijndael, depending on the combination of available memory and required security (energy efficiency being implicit). In terms of operation mode, we recommend Output Feedback Mode for pairwise links but Cipher Block Chaining for group communications

Benchmarking Block Ciphers for Wireless Sensor Networks

Choosing the most storage- and energy-efficient block cipher specifically for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is not as straightforward as it seems. To our knowledge so far, there is no systematic evaluation framework for the purpose. We have identified the candidates of block ciphers suitable for WSNs based on existing literature. For evaluating and assessing these candidates, we have devised a systematic framework that not only considers the security properties but also the storage- and energy-efficency of the candidates. Finally, based on the evaluation results, we have selected the suitable ciphers for WSNs, namely Rijndael for high security and energy efficiency requirements; and MISTY1 for good storage and energy efficiency

A dynamical systems approach to the discrimination of the modes of operation of cryptographic systems

Evidence of signatures associated with cryptographic modes of operation is established. Motivated by some analogies between cryptographic and dynamical systems, in particular with chaos theory, we propose an algorithm based on Lyapunov exponents of discrete dynamical systems to estimate the divergence among ciphertexts as the encryption algorithm is applied iteratively. The results allow to distinguish among six modes of operation, namely ECB, CBC, OFB, CFB, CTR and PCBC using DES, IDEA, TEA and XTEA block ciphers of 64 bits, as well as AES, RC6, Twofish, Seed, Serpent and Camellia block ciphers of 128 bits. Furthermore, the proposed methodology enables a classification of modes of operation of cryptographic systems according to their strength.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Pendekatan konstruktif dalam inovasi pengajaran dan pembelajaran Bahasa Melayu di Kolej Vokasional

Pendekatan konstruktif adalah pendekatan pengajaran dan pembelajaran yang berpusatkan pelajar manakala inovasi pengajaran pula dikaitkan dengan kaedah pengajaran yang terbaru demi mengukuhkan pemahaman pelajar. Pembelajaran berasaskan pendekatan konstruktif merupakan elemen yang penting dan perlu difahami oleh guru-guru bagi memantapkan proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran sesuai dengan peredaran masa dan menjayakan proses tranformasi pendidikan negara. Objektif kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti pemahaman guru-guru bahasa Melayu berkaitan inovasi, mengenal pasti perbezaan yang wujud antara guru lelaki dan guru perempuan dalam mengamalkan inovasi, pengkaji juga melihat adakah wujud perbezaan antara guru baru dan guru yang sudah berpengalaman dalam aspek mengaplikasikan inovasi serta mengenal pasti kekangan-kekangan yang dialami oleh para guru untuk mengaplikasikan inovasi di sekolah. Seramai 63 orang guru bahasa Melayu dari lapan buah kolej vokasional telah dipilih sebagai responden dalam kajian ini. Data dianalisis menggunakan perisian Winsteps 3.69.1.11 dengan pendekatan Model Pengukuran Rasch. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahawa guru�guru bahasa Melayu memahami kepentingan inovasi dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran. Hasil kajian juga menunjukkan guru-guru perempuan lebih banyak menerapkan unsur inovasi dalam pengajaran berbanding guru lelaki. Walaupun begitu, aspek pengalaman tidak menunjukkan perbezaan dari segi pengamalan inovasi sama ada guru baru ataupun guru yang sudah berpengalaman. Pengkaji juga mengenal pasti beberapa kekangan yang dialami oleh guru-guru untuk mengamalkan inovasi ini. Sebagai langkah untuk menangani masalah berkenaan, beberapa cadangan telah dikemukakan oleh pengkaji bagi memastikan guru-guru dapat merealisasikan proses pengajaran berkesan dengan penerapan inovasi mengikut model pendekatan konstruktif. Pengkaji berharap, kajian ini dapat dijadikan sebagai satu panduan kepada pelaksana kurikulum bagi memastikan budaya inovasi sentiasa menjadi amalan dalam kalangan guru demi mengangkat profesionalisme guru di Malaysia

Query Processing on Encrypted Database: A Performance Evaluation

Due to the rapid development of the global internetworked infrastructure, the research scope of secure data management has been greatly expanded. Now due to the openness of the internet, databases are accessed by legitimate authorized users as well as the outsiders. So the problems in traditional database security need to be revisited and readdressed in decentralized web-based and open environments. Secure and efficient algorithms are needed that provide the ability to query over encrypted database and allow optimized processing of data. Clearly, there is a compromise between the degree of security provided by encryption and the efficient querying of the database, because the operations of encryption and decryption greatly degrade query performance. We evaluate the performance of the query processing over encrypted database with algorithms REA and with most common algorithms: AES and RC6. The performance of the query over encrypted databases using AES, RC6 and REA algorithms are compared. This performance measure was conducted in terms of query execution time. The experiment results show the advantages of the algorithm REA over other algorithm AES and RC6 in terms of the query execution time. The results show that the encryption algorithm REA outperforms other encryption algorithms at performance and security in databases. The performance of the query enhanced if we encrypt the database by using REA algorithm. So it has achieved security requirements and is fast enough for most applications. REA algorithm is limiting the added time cost for encryption and decryption to do not degrade the performance of a database system. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.160413

Symmetric Encryption Algorithms: Review and Evaluation Study

The increased exchange of data over the Internet in the past two decades has brought data security and confidentiality to the fore front. Information security can be achieved by implementing encryption and decryption algorithms to ensure data remains secure and confidential, especially when transmitted over an insecure communication channel. Encryption is the method of coding information to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data integrity and confidentiality, whereas the reverse process is known as decryption. All encryption algorithms aim to secure data, however, their performance varies according to several factors such as file size, type, complexity, and platform used. Furthermore, while some encryption algorithms outperform others, they have been proven to be vulnerable against certain attacks. In this paper, we present a general overview of common encryption algorithms   and explain their inner workings. Additionally, we select ten different symmetric encryption algorithms and conduct a simulation in Java to test their performance. The algorithms we compare are: AES, BLOWFISH, RC2, RC4, RC6, DES, DESede, SEED, XTEA, and IDEA. We present the results of our simulation in terms of encryption speed, throughput, and CPU utilization rate for various file sizes ranging from 1MB to 1GB. We further analyze our results for all measures that have been tested, taking into account the level of security they provide

Design and implementation of proposed 320 bit RC6-cascaded encryption/decryption cores on altera FPGA

This paper attempts to build up a simple, strong and secure cryptographic algorithm. The result of such an attempt is “RC6-Cascade” which is 320-bits RC6 like block cipher. The key can be any length up to 256 bytes. It is a secret-key block cipher with precise characteristics of RC6 algorithm using another overall structure design. In RC6-Cascade, cascading of F-functions will be used instead of rounds. Moreover, the paper investigates a hardware design to efficiently implement the proposed RC6-Cascade block cipher core on field programmable gate array (FPGA). An efficient compact iterative architecture will be designed for the F-function of the above algorithm. The goal is to design a more secure algorithm and present a very fast encryption core for low cost and small size applications