Why is it necessary to use a hash function with an output size of 256 bits to achieve a security level equivalent to that of AES with a 128-bit security level?
The necessity of using a hash function with an output size of 256 bits to achieve a security level equivalent to that of AES with a 128-bit security level is rooted in the fundamental principles of cryptographic security, specifically the concepts of collision resistance and the birthday paradox. AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with a 128-bit
- Published in Cybersecurity, EITC/IS/ACC Advanced Classical Cryptography, Hash Functions, SHA-1 hash function, Examination review
How does the birthday paradox relate to the complexity of finding collisions in hash functions, and what is the approximate complexity for a hash function with a 160-bit output?
The birthday paradox, a well-known concept in probability theory, has significant implications in the field of cybersecurity, particularly in the context of hash functions and collision resistance. To understand this relationship, it is essential to first comprehend the birthday paradox itself and then explore its application to hash functions, such as the SHA-1 hash function,
- Published in Cybersecurity, EITC/IS/ACC Advanced Classical Cryptography, Hash Functions, SHA-1 hash function, Examination review
How does the birthday paradox analogy help to understand the likelihood of collisions in hash functions?
The birthday paradox analogy serves as a useful tool in comprehending the likelihood of collisions in hash functions. To understand this analogy, it is essential to first grasp the concept of hash functions. In the context of cryptography, a hash function is a mathematical function that takes an input (or message) and produces a fixed-size