128bit block cipher-cipherunicorn-a
Yukiyasu Tsunoo · Nec Research & Development · 2002
NEC has succeeded in developing a high-strength cipher CIPHERUNICORN-A. The CIPHERUNICORN-A is a common key cipher system to provide encryption with 128-bit data as one block. The master key length can be selected from 128, 192 and 256 bits. This specification is compatible with the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) for the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), FIPS-197. This standard specifies Rijndael as a FIPS-approved symmetric encryption algorithm that may be used by U.S. Government organizations (and others) to protect sensitive information. In August 2000, fifteen AES candidates proposed in response to a worldwide public call have been narrowed down to five include Rijndael. NEC used the cipher strength evaluation support system to conduct an objective evaluation of the CIPHERUNICORN-A and five finalists. This evaluation has demonstrated that the CIPHERUNICORN-A has a safety equal to or greater than that of all the AES candidates. Furthermore, in July 2000, CIPHERUNICORN-A was submitted to Cryptography Research & Evaluation Committees (CRYPTREC) in order to be nominated for a Japanese governmental standard, because the objectives of the CRYPTREC project are to make lists of cryptographic techniques for a common security basis to the Japanese e-Government of which the infrastructure and primary systems are to be implemented by FY 2003.