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Cryptographic Hash Functions Explained

The document explains the role of cryptography in message authentication and digital signatures, detailing how message authentication verifies message integrity and sender identity using hash functions. It describes methods for authentication, including the use of Message Authentication Codes (MAC) and the advantages of using keyed hash functions. Additionally, it outlines how digital signatures utilize public-key encryption to ensure integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation.

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5 views5 pages

Cryptographic Hash Functions Explained

The document explains the role of cryptography in message authentication and digital signatures, detailing how message authentication verifies message integrity and sender identity using hash functions. It describes methods for authentication, including the use of Message Authentication Codes (MAC) and the advantages of using keyed hash functions. Additionally, it outlines how digital signatures utilize public-key encryption to ensure integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation.

Uploaded by

Death Slime
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1.

Explain Applications of cryptographic Hash function OR Explain Role of Cryptography in


message Authentication and Digital Signature
[Link] Authentication
Message authentication verifies that a message has not been modified, inserted, deleted, or replayed. It
also assures that the sender’s identity is genuine. When a hash function is used for authentication, the
resulting value is called a message digest.
• The sender computes a hash value from the message and sends both the message
and its hash.
• The receiver recomputes the hash and compares it with the received one.
Encrypt (Message + Hash) using symmetric encryption
→ Ensures authentication and confidentiality.
b. Encrypt only the hash code
→ Provides authentication with less computation if confidentiality is not required.
c. Use a shared secret value (S) without encryption
→ Sender computes H(M‖S) and sends it with M.
→ Receiver recomputes using the same S to verify authenticity.
→ The secret value is never transmitted, preventing tampering.
d. Encrypt (Message + Hash) for added confidentiality.
Method (b) is often preferred as encryption of the entire message is computationally expensive.
Reasons to avoid full encryption:
• Encryption software is slow for frequent small messages.
• Hardware cost adds up for all nodes.
• Hardware initialization overhead is high for small data.
• Encryption algorithms may be patent protected.
Message Authentication Code (MAC)
A MAC (keyed hash function) is used when two parties share a secret key.
• MAC function: MAC = F(K, M)
• Verifies both integrity and authenticity.
• An attacker cannot alter the message or MAC without knowing K.
• Combines hashing and encryption: e.g., E(K, H(M)) acts as a MAC. MACs are more efficient than
encryption algorithms.

2. Digital Signatures
Similar to MAC but uses public-key encryption.
• The hash value of a message is encrypted with the sender’s private key.
• Anyone with the public key can verify it.
• Ensures integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation (Figure 11.4a).
• For confidentiality, the message + signature can be encrypted with a symmetric key
2. Explain 2 Simple Hash Function

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