The most versatile cryptographic algorithm is the cryptographic hash function
Instructions
Stallings states, “Perhaps the most versatile cryptographic algorithm is the cryptographic hash function. It is used in a wide variety of security applications and Internet protocols.”
1. State your opinion as to whether or not you agree or disagree with him.
2. Provide a rationale for your response.
3. Use Internet references published within the past year.
References
William Stallings (August 23, 2019), Cryptography and Network Security 8th Edition, CP 11.1 Applications of Cryptographic Hash Functions.
Cryptographic Hash Function
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Cryptographic Hash Function
A cryptographic hash function can be described as an algorithm that takes an arbitrary amount of data input and is used to produce an output fixed in size of enciphered text known as a hash value, or others call it just hash. The enciphered text is then stored instead of the password only and used to verify the user. I agree that the cryptographic Hash Function is most likely the most versatile cryptographic algorithm. It is widely used in various network protocols and security applications (Stallings, 2019). Many people have used it mainly in authentication, digital signature, and other fields. An example of the Hash Function Algorithm is the MD5 algorithm. It is a typical representative of the MD structure, which is also a typical Hash function representative.
A hash function H accepts a variable-length block of data M as an input. It then produces a fixed-size hash value h=H(M). what can be considered a useful hash function has the property that applying the function to a vast set of inputs will get as outputs that are distributed evenly and randomly. The cryptographic hash function has the hash function that is mostly used for security related applications. A cryptographic hash function is computationally infeasible in finding either data object that maps to a pre-specified hash result. That can also be referred to as the one-way property. Two data objects map to the hash result, which can also be referred to as the collision-free property.
Cryptographic hash functions usually do message integrity checks and digital signatures in different information security applications like message integrity and authentication. No given definition is formal that captures all the properties considered desirable for a cryptographic hash function. However, some properties are considered prerequisites, which include, one, preimage resistance. That is when h is given, which should be hard to find any m such that h=hash(m). two, second preimage resistant whereby given an input m1, it is hard finding another input, m2 (not equal to m1) such that hash(m1) =hash(m2).
Some of the applications of cryptographic hash function include message authentication. That is a service or a mechanism used to verify message integrity (Sharma & Mittal, 2019). Message integrity can be defined as the unmodified, unchanged, unaltered, or untampered message sent. The second function is a digital signature. That is a mechanism that assures digital messages or documents are authentic or that the message was created by a sender that is well known or that can be identified. Digital signature operation is similar to that of message authentication code (MAC). The cryptographic hash function is executable on data, like a password or file, in coming up with a checksum value.
In conclusion, there are both good and bad sides to cryptographic hashes. The right side is that cryptographic hashes take clear text passwords turning them into enciphered text for storage. Therefore, attackers are forced to decipher the hash values if they want to exploit the database. That means hashes slow down attackers. The wrong side is that the hashes can slow down attackers, but attackers can ultimately overcome them. Those attackers equipped with fast hardware can quickly get access by cracking down hashed credentials. It is impossible to get rid of collisions, although useful hash algorithms are designed to be collision-resistant. I agree that the cryptographic algorithm’s most versatile cryptographic hash function since it is widely used in internet protocols and security applications.
References
William Stallings (August 23, 2019), Cryptography and Network Security 8th Edition, CP 11.1 Applications of Cryptographic Hash Functions.
Sharma, A. K., & Mittal, S. K. (2019, January). Cryptography & Network Security Hash Function Applications, Attacks, and Advances: A Review. In 2019 Third International Conference on Inventive Systems and Control (ICISC) (pp. 177-188). IEEE.
