Hashing Algorithms 6.2

Question 1

MD5 Message Digest Algorithm

Answer 1

Designed by Ronald Rivest one of the ‘fathers” of modern cryptography. It isn’t in use much because it had hash collisions.

Question 2

Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA)

Answer 2

Replaces MD5. Created by the NSA. It’s a part of FIPS. Collision was discovered in 2005, and thus SHA-2 was created. SHA-2 is up to 512-bit digests. SHA-1 is now retired.

Question 3

Hash-Based Message Authentication Code (HMAC)

Answer 3

Commonly seen as HMAC-MD5, HMAC-SHA1. Combines a hash with a secret key. It’s benefits include providing data integrity and authenticity. Does this without using slower Asymmetric encryption. If you use IPSec or TLS, you are probably using some form of HMAC.

Question 4

RACE Integrity Primitives Evaluation Message Digest (RIPEMD)

Answer 4

RACE is a European R&D Adv. Comm. Tech. They were created to help with Integrated Broadband Comms in Europe. Was their plan for a centralized cryptographic standards and management. It had collisions and thus RIPEMD evolved into RIPEMD-160. It’s based off MD4 but performs similar to SHA-1. You will see versions of RIPEMD-128, 256, 320.