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Difference Between AES and 3DES
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and 3DES (Triple Data Encryption Standard) are two frequently used encryption algorithms meant to protect sensitive data. Both techniques are used for symmetric encryption, which means the same key is used for both encryption and decryption.
Read this article to find out more about AES and 3DES and how they are different from each other.
What is AES?
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a frequently used symmetric encryption technique for securing sensitive data. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the United States selected it as the standard encryption method in 2001, replacing the earlier DES (Data Encryption Standard). AES is designed to provide a high level of security and efficiency while accommodating a wide range of key lengths.
Key Features of AES
Symmetric Encryption − AES is a symmetric encryption technique, which means it uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. The secret key must be shared beforehand by everyone involved in the communication.
Block Cipher − Since AES is a block cipher, it processes data in fixed-size blocks. AES's block size is 128 bits.
Key Lengths − AES offers three key sizes: 128 bits, 192 bits, and 256 bits. The strength of the encryption is determined by the key size, with larger key sizes providing stronger security.
Security of AES
AES is well known for providing a high level of security. It has been carefully analyzed and tested for resilience to various cryptographic techniques, such as differential and linear cryptanalysis.
AES Decryption Process
In AES, the decryption process is merely the inverse of the encryption procedure. The same method is used for key expansion, but the round keys are used in reverse order for decryption. During decryption, the inverse of each encryption process (SubBytes, ShiftRows, and MixColumns) is used, allowing the original plaintext to be recovered.
AES Encryption Process
The initial key is enlarged into a set of key schedule rounds, which can be 128, 192, or 256 bits long. The key expansion procedure generates a set of round keys that are used after encryption rounds.
What is 3DES?
The Data Encryption Standard (DES) algorithm is used three times in succession with two or three different keys for more protection. It was created as an upgrade on the original DES, which had certain flaws due to its relatively small 56-bit key size. 3DES effectively raises the key size by applying DES three times with different keys, making it more resistant to brute-force attacks and other cryptographic attacks.
Key Features of 3DES
Symmetric Encryption − 3DES, like AES, is a symmetric encryption technique, which means it uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. The communicating parties must first share the secret key.
Block Cipher − 3DES operates on fixed-size data blocks. The block size of 3DES is 64 bits, which is half the block size in AES.
3-Key Triple DES − Three separate 56-bit keys are used for encryption, resulting in an effective key length of 168 bits (56 bits * 3). This is the most secure option and provides the highest level of security.
2-Key Triple DES − Encryption is performed using two separate 56-bit keys, resulting in an effective key length of 112 bits (56 bits * 2).
1-Key Triple DES − The same 56-bit key is used for encryption three times, resulting in an effective key length of 56 bits. This option is the least secure and provides the same amount of protection as the original DES.
Security − While 3DES is more secure than the original DES, it is considered to be relatively weak in comparison to modern encryption methods such as AES. The fundamental reason for this is that, compared to AES, which offers key sizes of up to 256 bits, the effective key size is very small (168 bits at most). The security of 3DES becomes more vulnerable to brute-force attacks as computational power grows.
Difference between AES and 3DES
The following table highlights the major differences between AES and 3DES −
Characteristics |
AES |
3DES |
|---|---|---|
Number of Rounds |
10 (128-bit key), 12 (192-bit key), 14 (256-bit key) |
48 (3-Key), 32 (2-Key), 16 (1-Key) |
Algorithm Type |
Symmetric Block Cipher |
Symmetric Block Cipher |
Security Strength |
Strong |
Weaker than AES, especially 1-Key Triple DES |
Block Size |
128 bits |
64 bits |
Performance |
Efficient, especially in hardware-accelerated environments |
Slower compared to AES |
Keying Options |
N/A |
1-Key, 2-Key, or 3-Key Triple DES |
Vulnerabilities |
Resistant to many attacks |
Vulnerable to certain attacks |
Key Management |
Requires managing different key sizes for AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256 |
Requires managing multiple keys for 3DES keying options |
Key Sizes |
128, 192, or 256 bits |
56, 112, or 168 bits |
Conclusion
In conclusion, AES is a safer and efficient encryption method than 3DES. It has become the preferred solution for modern encryption applications due to its wider range of key sizes. While 3DES is still secure, it is being phased out in favor of AES because of its restrictions and slower performance.
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