DES Full Form

DES stands for Data Encryption Standard. DES is a symmetric cryptographic algorithm. It encrypts the data using the symmetric key algorithm (there will be a single key for encryption and decryption). DES encrypts by dividing the data into smaller chunks of 64 bits and then using a 56-bit key with the encryption algorithm to get encrypted 64-bit cipher. Designed in the early 1970s by IBM developers and published in 1976 as official Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) for the United States. Over time, new encryption techniques kept emerging with the rise in better brute-force attacks and DES became vulnerable to use. To overcome this vulnerability, successors of the DES algorithm emerged such as Triple DES, G-DES, DES-X, LOKI89, etc.

Characteristics of DES:

• Uses Symmetric-key algorithm: DES uses symmetric-key algorithm and uses same 56-bit key for encryption and decryption creating around permutations which was not easy to crack originally.
• Transposition and substitution cipher is used: This algorithm uses both transposition cipher and substitution cipher technique.
• Efficient: With permutations, it was not easy to crack at that time. It was fast and efficient for hardwares and was originally developed for hardware in 1970.

Advantages of DES:

• DES uses symmetric-key algorithm and therefore, encryption and decryption can be done by single key using same algorithm.
• DES was designed for hardwares rather than software and shows efficiency and fast implementation in hardwares.

Disadvantages of DES:

• DES provides low level security in terms of 56-bit key as brute-force attack can devastate it easily.
• This algorithm is not efficient for softwares and runs slowly on softwares.
• DES was not developed for linear cryptanalysis as DES was invented before the invention of this problem.