This post compares AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and DES (Data Encryption Standard).
To know what DES vs AES actually means, you first need to understand what a symmetric block cipher is. Also known as symmetric encryption algorithm, a block cipher is a cryptographic algorithm that turns plaintext data into encrypted text (also known as ciphertext). To give you an example, a block cipher might turn “Apple” into something like “2e$5kv7fg*=v#.” The transformation from plaintext to ciphertext is carried out using what’s known as a symmetric encryption key, which is a mathematical function. Basically, upon applying this key, the plaintext is turned into blocks of a certain size that are then encrypted. Because it’s a symmetric key, it can also decrypt the encrypted text, which reverts it to its original form.
| AES | DES |
|---|---|
| AES stands for Advanced Encryption Standard | DES stands for Data Encryption Standard |
| The date of creation is 1999. | The date of creation is 1976. |
| Byte-Oriented. | Bit-Oriented. |
| Key length can be 128-bits, 192-bits, and 256-bits. | The key length is 56 bits in DES. |
| Number of rounds depends on key length: 10(128-bits), 12(192-bits), or 14(256-bits) | DES involves 16 rounds of identical operations |
| The structure is based on a substitution-permutation network. | The structure is based on a Feistel network. |
| The design rationale for AES is open. | The design rationale for DES is closed. |
| The selection process for this is secret but accepted open public comment. | The selection process for this is secret. |
| AES is more secure than the DES cipher and is the de facto world standard. | DES can be broken easily as it has known vulnerabilities. 3DES(Triple DES) is a variation of DES which is secure than the usual DES. |
| The rounds in AES are: Byte Substitution, Shift Row, Mix Column and Key Addition | The rounds in DES are: Expansion, XOR operation with round key, Substitution and Permutation |
| AES can encrypt 128 bits of plaintext. | DES can encrypt 64 bits of plaintext. |
| AES cipher is derived from an aside-channel square cipher. | DES cipher is derived from Lucifer cipher. |
| AES was designed by Vincent Rijmen and Joan Daemen. | DES was designed by IBM. |
| No known crypt-analytical attacks against AES but side channel attacks against AES implementations possible. Biclique attacks have better complexity than brute force but still ineffective. | Known attacks against DES include Brute-force, Linear crypt-analysis, and Differential crypt-analysis. |
Sources: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/difference-between-aes-and-des-ciphers/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/symmetric-encryption
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