Data Encryption Standard

:This article is about the DES encryption algorithm. For other uses, see Diethylstilbestrol and DES (disambiguation).

Related Topics:
Diethylstilbestrol - DES (disambiguation)

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The Data Encryption Standard (DES) is a cipher (a method for encrypting information) selected as an official Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) for the United States in 1976, and which has subsequently enjoyed widespread use internationally. The algorithm was initially controversial, with classified design elements, a relatively short key length, and suspicions about a National Security Agency (NSA) backdoor. DES consequently came under intense academic scrutiny, and motivated the modern understanding of block ciphers and their cryptanalysis.

Related Topics:
Cipher - Encrypt - Federal Information Processing Standard - United States - 1976 - Classified - Key length - National Security Agency - Backdoor - Academic - Block cipher - Cryptanalysis

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DES is now considered to be insecure for many applications. This is chiefly due to the 56-bit key size being too small; DES keys have been broken in less than 24 hours. There are also some analytical results which demonstrate theoretical weaknesses in the cipher, although they are infeasible to mount in practice. The algorithm is believed to be practically secure in the form of Triple DES, although there are theoretical attacks. In recent years, the cipher has been superseded by the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

Related Topics:
Triple DES - Advanced Encryption Standard

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In some documentation, DES is referred to as the DEA (the Data Encryption Algorithm). When spoken, "DES" is either spelled out (dee-ee-ess) or pronounced as a single syllable (dez).

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