An Enciphering Module for MULTICS

Abstract

Recently IBM Corporation has declassified an algorithm for encryption usable for computer-to-computer or computer-to-terminal communications. Their algorithm was implemented in a hardware device called Lucifer. A software implementation of Lucifer for MULTICS is described. A proof of the algorithm's reversibility for deciphering is provided. A special hand-coded (assembly language) version of Lucifer is described whose goal is to attain performance as close as possible to that of the hardware device. Performance measurements of this program are given. Questions addressed are: How complex is it to implement an algorithm in software designed primarily for digital hardware. Can such a program perform well enough for use in the I/O system of a large time- sharing system.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1974
Accession Number
AD0782658

Entities

People

  • G. G. Benedict

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Arithmetic
  • Assembly Languages
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers
  • Cryptography
  • Cybersecurity
  • Diagrams
  • Digital Communications
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Information Security
  • Instructions
  • Language
  • Measurement
  • Rotation
  • Security
  • Standards

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Computer Science.
  • Parallel and Distributed Computing.
  • Systems Analysis and Design