Lightweight Hybrid Block-Stream Cryptographic Algorithm for the Internet of Things

TL;DR

This paper introduces SEPAR, a lightweight hybrid encryption algorithm tailored for IoT devices, combining pseudo-random functions to enhance security and speed, with proven robustness and significant performance gains over existing ciphers.

Contribution

The paper presents SEPAR, a novel lightweight hybrid encryption algorithm specifically designed for IoT, integrating pseudo-random permutation and generator functions for improved security and efficiency.

Findings

Confirmed robustness against cryptographic attacks via NIST tests.

Achieved up to 98% performance improvement on microcontrollers.

Demonstrated significant speed gains over existing algorithms like PRESENT.

Abstract

In this thesis, a novel lightweight hybrid encryption algorithm named SEPAR is proposed, featuring a 16-bit block length and a 128-bit initialization vector. The algorithm is designed specifically for application in Internet of Things (IoT) technology devices. The design concept of this algorithm is based on the integration of a pseudo-random permutation function and a pseudo-random generator function. This intelligent combination not only enhances the algorithm's resistance against cryptographic attacks but also improves its processing speed. The security analyses conducted on the algorithm, along with the results of NIST statistical tests, confirm its robustness against most common and advanced cryptographic attacks, including linear and differential attacks. The proposed algorithm has been implemented on various software platform architectures. The software implementation was carried out on three platforms: 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit architectures. A comparative analysis with the BORON algorithm on a 32-bit ARM processor indicates a performance improvement of 42.25%. Furthermore, implementation results on 8-bit and 16-bit microcontrollers demonstrate performance improvements of 87.91% and 98.01% respectively, compared to the PRESENT cipher.