What is AES?
The Advanced Encryption Standard is all around you and you’re unaware of it. It is in the background, doing its thing, when you fill out government paperwork online (passport applications, drivers licence renewals, etc. ), when you store personal information on a website (Facebook, Twitter, etc. ), and even when you use your VISA or bank card to make a purchase.
The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a cypher, which means it is a method or procedure for converting raw data (human readable) into unreadable data.
AES is a symmetric key block cypher that employs a block cypher. To convert plain text to ciphertext, it is encoded in block sizes. The maximum bit size is 128 bits, with key sizes of 128, 192, and 256 bits.
The amount of rounding depends on the size of the key. For 128 bits, there are 10 rounds, 12 rounds for 192 bits, and 14 rounds for 256 bits. AES128, AES192, and AES256 are their names.
Encryption is the name for this portion of the procedure. To modify the data in a unique way, the approach uses a known, external piece of information called a key. Your computer login password, for example, or the password to your bank account, are both examples of passwords.
Furthermore, the technique is reversible, which means it can be used to restore the information to its original state.
What is RC4?
Rivest Cipher 4 (known as RC4) is a type of stream cypher. It uses an algorithm to encrypt messages one byte at a time.
There are many other stream cyphers, but RC4 is one of the most popular. It’s easy to use and works rapidly, even with enormous amounts of data. You’ve probably met RC4 encryption if you’ve ever used a TSL (transport layer security) or SSL (secure socket layer) application.
The RC4 encryption algorithm was created by Ron Rivest in 1987. He wanted to keep the cipher’s rules hidden, and if his strategy worked, he would have devised one of the safest techniques for protecting information. Unfortunately, his ideas did not come to fruition. RC4 encryption isn’t widely used. In fact, the Internet Engineering Task Force has expressly forbidden the usage of RC4 in certain areas.
In 1994, an anonymous person in a public place posted a detailed description of the cipher’s rules. We know a lot more about how RC4 works now that the regulations are out in the open. Unfortunately, this also means that hackers have a better understanding of how to break it.
The encryption tools used by RC4 are complex. They have 256 bytes, and the text is passed through a series of mathematical criteria before being considered complete.
If you intercept RC4-encrypted data, you’ll see nothing but zeroes and ones. However, you can turn that data into useful knowledge if you have the right key.
Difference Between AES and RC4
- Rivest Cipher 4 is a stream cypher, whereas AES, or Advanced Encryption Standard, is a block cypher.
- In comparison to RC4, AES is more secure in terms of security.
- AES was created after RC4, with the former beginning in 1997 and the later beginning in 1987.
- AES has key sizes of 128, 192, and 256 bits, while RC4 uses key sizes of 64 and 128 bits.
- AES uses a complicated algorithm, but RC4 uses a basic approach.
Comparison Between AES and RC4
| Parameters of comparison | AES | RC4 |
| Definition | The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a block cypher that is symmetric. | Rivest Cipher 4, also known as Rivest Cipher 4, is a symmetric stream cypher. |
| Origin | In 1997, an open competition was held to design AES. | RC4 was created by Ron Rivest in 1987. |
| Security | AES is a more safe encryption algorithm than RC4. | AES is more secure than RC4. |
| Key sizes | 128, 192, and 256 bits | 64 or 128 bits |
| Applications | SSL, TSL, etc. | NASA, NIST, etc |