What is AES?
AES stands for Advanced Encryption Standard. It is a symmetric encryption algorithm widely used to secure data. Here are some key points about AES:
- Type of Encryption:
Symmetric Key Algorithm: Uses the same key for both encryption and decryption.
Key Sizes:
AES supports three different key lengths:
- 128 bits
- 192 bits
- 256 bits
Security Level:
- Considered highly secure and is the standard for encrypting sensitive information.
It is resistant to most forms of cryptographic attacks.
Adoption:
Adopted by the U.S. government and widely used in various industries, including finance, healthcare, and data protection.
Block Size:
AES operates on blocks of 128 bits regardless of the key size.
Modes of Operation:
- AES can work in various modes, such as:
- ECB (Electronic Codebook)
- CBC (Cipher Block Chaining)
- CFB (Cipher Feedback)
- OFB (Output Feedback)
- CTR (Counter Mode)
Understanding AES is crucial for anyone involved in data security, as it forms the backbone of many encryption solutions today.