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Wow, this site is getting better and better!
Let's start a debate here:
What are the best encryption algorithms for symmetric key and asymmetric key encryption? Thinking about speed, strength, how easy to implement, patented or not...

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Member #: 51

lol ... I wouldn't have a clue. 8(

Rank: ? (614)
Member #: 9832

Ok, lets start with a simple one.
Just a moment ago I was experimenting with one-time pads (random string that is exactly the same length as the original message and used to perform XOR between it and the original message). So, I tested and found out that I can do that with one pad, then with another one, then again with the first one and finally with the second pad again, in other words encryption and decryption don't need to happen in same order. Now, here comes a puzzle: How to use this in any practical way?
I could do one-time-pad encryption, send my message and whoever gets it would use different pad, send it back and I would remove my encryption by using the pad again and finally the receiver would do the same(with the second pad) and read the message.
If anybody gets one message it would be practically impossible to break, very good, but this nice little system would collapse immediately if the guy in between would get two versions (XOR between two versions would reveal one of the pads...)
So can anybody think of any way to implement this?

One-time-pads can be effectively used, however. Consider this:
While governments are complaining about how encryption makes police work difficult and harass software companies because of that, I think the really bad guys
(terrorist etc...) are sent abroad with a one-time pad in their pockets and one day they will receive their instructions as an unbreakable encrypted message. So the point is, all export controls on security products are waste of time, they only prevent ordinary people from securing their email and credit-card details. Luckily many governments have already understood this...

Opinions anyone?

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 Crypdoctor


I agree with that. If encryption is outlawed, criminals and terrorists will still use it... BECAUSE THEY ARE OUTLAWS! Then the law abiding people won't have any protection.

Similar to the gun control issue in canada.

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All the other stuff: I have not a clue what you are talking about
You must really have that stuff down!

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Member #: 9832

 jordanaf2003


Thanks but not really... I've read few books and experimented with some code that's all. I put two tutorials in the programming (c++) and security sections and I'm waiting for comments. I'm fairly sure that there is some mistakes, especially in the code and I was hoping that someone would point them out.
On my website:

http://members.lycos.co.uk/crypdoctor

there's some more stuff, and I'm waiting for comments about the site too.

This thread is drifting away from its original subject, so back to "what is the best encryption algorithm?"

Website comments in the website-review section please.

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Member #: 11704

I went through your tutorial as I am interested in this topic of encryption.I was very much impressed by the idea of sending encrypted data back and forth and I should like to add that if a method to implement it automatically is thought of, then we can surely transmit data on the net in a very secure way.Every machine connected to teh net should have its own encryption(or the gateways can assign one to each) and any data sent from that machine will be encrypted with its unique key.Now the idea can be implemented.But the drawback is that traffic on the internet will triple.But the problem of security will be solved to a great extent.However, is it possible to have so many encryption keys?

Rank: ? (614)
Member #: 9832

Um... there are things like virtual private networks and so on that are little bit more practical solutions(although never perfect)... Besides, I remember intel was planning something like a unique encryption key with every processor. Bad idea and luckily abandoned due public pressure. Reason? Unique key would make every computer immediately identifiable, which is not very good thing for your privacy. Even worse idea was clipper-chip by US government (I'm sure there will be something to read about it if you search the net...).
My opinion is, no automatic encryption systems please. User should be allowed to choose their methods and keys.
The thing is, even if it is "automatic" somebody has to design&implement it and take care of it and there is no one "somebody" trusted by everyone in the world.
Options are like: US Government, Microsoft, Intel...

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here some clue for choosing the best programming language in http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/index.php

Rank: ? (168)
Member #: 8368

hmm..i always thought that RSA encryption was the best type of encryption...as the key you use to encrypt and the key you use to decrypt is different...and if you select the correct encrypt key...it will be nearly impossible to get the decrypt key (well, take a few billion years ont he most powerful computers)

but then again, i'm no expert on encryption :P

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Member #: 25940

may be you could help me in this program in school i really need it....



thanks here goes


A company wants to transmit data over the telephone, but it is concerned that its phones may be tapped. All of its data are transmitted as one digit integer. It has asked you to write a program that will encrypt its data so that data may be transmitted more securely. Your application should read a one-digit integer entered by the user and encrypt it as follows: Replace the digit by (the sum of that sequence digit plus 75). Then reverse the number. Print the encrypted integer.
Note: Minimum input number is 1 and maximum input number is 50.

Sample Input/Output:

Enter a digit: 15
Encrypted digit: 591

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oops i almost forgot the platform were using @ school is java and windows

Rank: ? (168)
Member #: 8368

hi there,
just wondering...how did u get from 15 to 591 ?