Analysis and design of stream ciphers
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
title: Analysis and design of stream ciphers
zbMATH Open document ID: 0618.94001
author: Rainer A. Rueppel
published in: Communications and Control Engineering
publication date: 1986-01-01T00:00:00Z
review text: This book is concerned with stream ciphers. The introduction gives a survey on cryptographic systems and an outline of the rest of the book. Chapter 2 defines the notion of stream cipher system. Moreover the main problem (i.e. to find suitable key stream generators) is stated. In chapter 3 basic concepts of algebra (e.g. finite fields) are discussed. This provides us with the tools needed to tackle the problem mentioned in chapter 2. Also Linear Feedback Shift Registers (LFSRs) are introduced. Chapter 4 treats the notion of random sequences and linear complexity (profile). It appears that the randomness postulates of Solomon Golomb do not give the right criteria; the linear complexity profile turns out to be a more useful concept (cf. p. 53). Chapter 5 is devoted to the analysis of nonlinear functions which when applied to one or more LFSR-sequences may produce new sequences satisfying the criteria obtained in the previous chapter. In particular, in section 5.1 the author analyses what happens when distinct stages of one LFSR are combined in a nonlinear way and in section 5.2 he describes what happens when sequences of distinct LFSRs are combined in a nonlinear way. Furthermore, the concept of correlation immunity is introduced. It appears that the involved nonlinear functions must satisfy conflicting conditions in order to produce a ''wanted'' new sequence. By allowing memory in the nonlinear combining functions these conflicts can be avoided (cf. p. 140). This idea is exploited in chapter 9. In chapter 6 the effects of multiple clocking are studied. The remaining two chapters (7 and 8) discuss ways to apply the classical knapsack problem in the connexion with stream cipher systems. I think this book is basically a good book for two reasons. Firstly, since there are not so many publications handling the subject of nonlinear combinations of LFSRs, and secondly because the devices and concepts are described in a very transparant way. However, sometimes the proofs are…
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 94A60
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 94A55
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 94-01
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 94-02
zbMATH DE Number: 4004057
zbMATH Keywords: cryptography
zbMATH Keywords: stream ciphers
zbMATH Keywords: linear feedback shift registers
zbMATH Keywords: random sequences
zbMATH Keywords: correlation immunity
zbMATH Keywords: multiple clocking
zbMATH Keywords: knapsack
reviewed by: Herman J. Tiersma
MaRDI profile type: Publication
description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4004057