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Blow Fish Algorithm

Blowfish is a symmetric block cipher designed as a fast and secure alternative to existing algorithms like AES and DES. It encrypts data in blocks of 64 bits using a variable-length key from 32 to 448 bits. The key is used to generate subkeys which are used in the encryption process which consists of 16 rounds of encryption applying permutations and substitutions. Blowfish remains unpatented and royalty-free, making it suitable for use in applications requiring encryption where the key does not change often, like communication links or file encryption utilities.

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Dil Lip
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273 views

Blow Fish Algorithm

Blowfish is a symmetric block cipher designed as a fast and secure alternative to existing algorithms like AES and DES. It encrypts data in blocks of 64 bits using a variable-length key from 32 to 448 bits. The key is used to generate subkeys which are used in the encryption process which consists of 16 rounds of encryption applying permutations and substitutions. Blowfish remains unpatented and royalty-free, making it suitable for use in applications requiring encryption where the key does not change often, like communication links or file encryption utilities.

Uploaded by

Dil Lip
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

Introduction:
An encryption algorithm plays an important role in securing the data in storing or
transferring it. The encryption
algorithms are categorized into Symmetric (secret) and
Asymmetric (public) keys encryption.

In Symmetric key encryption or secret key encryption [1], only one key is used for
both encryption and decryption of data.

Eg: Data encryption standard(DES), Triple DES, Advanced Encryption


Standard(AES) and Blowfish
Encryption Algorithm

In asymmetric key encryption or public key encryption [1] uses two keys, one for
encryption and other for decryption.
Eg: RSA

2. Blowfish Encryption Algorithm[2]:


Blowfish was designed in 1993 by Bruce Scheier as a fast, alternative to existing encryption
algorithms such AES, DES and 3 DES etc.
Blowfish is a symmetric block encryption algorithm designed in consideration with,

Fast : It encrypts data on large 32-bit microprocessors at a rate of 26 clock cycles


per byte.

Compact: It can run in less than 5K of memory.

Simple: It uses addition, XOR, lookup table with 32-bit operands.

Secure: The key length is variable ,it can be in the range of 32~448 bits: default
128 bits key length.

It is suitable for applications where the key does not change often, like
communication link or an automatic file encryptor.

Unpatented

and

royality-free.

Fig 1: The Feistel structure of Blowfish


[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BlowfishDiagram.png ]

2.1 Description of Algorithm:


Blowfish symmetric block cipher algorithm encrypts block data of 64-bits at a time.it will
follows the feistel network and this algorithm is divided into two parts.
1. Key-expansion
2. Data Encryption

2.1.1 Key-expansion:
It will converts a key of at most 448 bits into several subkey arrays totaling 4168
bytes. Blowfish uses large number of subkeys.
These keys are generate earlier to any data encryption or decryption.
The p-array consists of 18, 32-bit subkeys:
P1,P2,.,P18
Four 32-bit S-Boxes consists of 256 entries each:
S1,0, S1,1,. S1,255

S2,0, S2,1,.. S2,255


S3,0, S3,1,.. S3,255
S4,0, S4,1,..............S4,255
Generating the Subkeys:
The subkeys are calculated using the Blowfish algorithm:
1.

2.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Initialize first the P-array and then the four S-boxes, in order, with a fixed string. This
string consists of the hexadecimal digits of pi (less the initial 3): P1 = 0x243f6a88, P2 =
0x85a308d3, P3 = 0x13198a2e, P4 = 0x03707344, etc.
XOR P1 with the first 32 bits of the key, XOR P2 with the second 32-bits of the key,
and so on for all bits of the key (possibly up to P14). Repeatedly cycle through the key bits
until the entire P-array has been XORed with key bits. (For every short key, there is at least
one equivalent longer key; for example, if A is a 64-bit key, then AA, AAA, etc., are
equivalent keys.)
Encrypt the all-zero string with the Blowfish algorithm, using the subkeys described
in steps (1) and (2).
Replace P1 and P2 with the output of step (3).
Encrypt the output of step (3) using the Blowfish algorithm with the modified
subkeys.
Replace P3 and P4 with the output of step (5).
Continue the process, replacing all entries of the P array, and then all four S-boxes in
order, with the output of the continuously changing Blowfish algorithm.
In total, 521 iterations are required to generate all required subkeys. Applications can store
the subkeys rather than execute this derivation process multiple times.

2.1.2 Data Encryption:


It is having a function to iterate 16 times of network. Each round consists of key-dependent
permutation and a key and data-dependent substitution. All operations are XORs and
additions on 32-bit words. The only additional operations are four indexed array data lookup
tables for each round.
---------------------------------------------------Algorithm:Blowfish Encryption
------------------------------------------------------------------

Divide x into two 32-bit halves: xL, xR


For i = 1to 16:
xL = XL XOR Pi
xR = F(XL) XOR xR

Swap XL and xR
Swap XL and xR (Undo the last swap.)
xR = xR XOR P17
xL = xL XOR P18
Recombine xL and xR

Fig 2: Blowfish Encryption


[Source: http://i.cmpnet.com/embedded/gifs/2003/0308/0308feat2fig1.gif]

Note: For more details about the Blowfish Encryption Algorithm, refer "References" tab

3. Products that are using Blowfish Algorithm[8] :


1. Blowfish Advanced CS by Markus Hahn[9]:

File encryption and wipe utility for all Win32 systems. File browser, job automation, auto
password confirmation,
secure key setup with SHA-1, and data compression with LZSS. Uses Blowfish, Twofish,
and Yarrow. Open source.

2. Access Manager by Citi-Software Ltd[10]:


A password manager for Windows. Free for personal use.
3. AEdit[11]:
A free Windows word processor incorporating text encryption.

Note:
For more information on Blowfish available given below,
Blow fish PPT file

Cite this Simulator:

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