Self-synchronizing Digital Encryptors

Self-synchronizing Digital Encryptors

Self-synchronizing digital encryptors are cryptographic systems that use a stream cipher to encrypt data. Unlike block ciphers, which work on fixed-size blocks of data, stream ciphers encrypt data one bit or byte at a time, generating a keystream that is combined with the plaintext to produce the ciphertext. The keystream is generated by a pseudorandom number generator (PRNG), which produces a sequence of bits that appears random but is actually deterministic, based on a secret key. Self-synchronizing stream ciphers are designed to be used in situations where the sender and receiver may lose synchronization due to errors or noise in the communication channel. In a self-synchronizing system, the keystream is generated in such a way that the receiver can recover the synchronization state by examining the ciphertext. This is done by including a synchronization marker in the keystream, which is a sequence of bits that is known to both the sender and receiver. If the receiver detects an error in the ciphertext, it can use the synchronization marker to resynchronize the keystream and recover the correct plaintext. One of the advantages of self-synchronizing stream ciphers is that they can be used in situations where the length of the plaintext is not known in advance. This makes them useful for encrypting data streams, such as audio or video, where the length of the data may vary over time. Another advantage is that they can be implemented efficiently in hardware, making them suitable for use in embedded systems or other devices with limited processing power. However, self-synchronizing stream ciphers are vulnerable to certain types of attacks, such as known plaintext attacks and ciphertext-only attacks. To mitigate these risks, it is important to use a strong PRNG and to periodically change the secret key.

cryptographic systems, stream cipher, pseudorandom number generator, synchronization marker, ciphertext

— Matthew Williams

CITATION : "Matthew Williams. 'Self-synchronizing Digital Encryptors.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/self-synchronizing-digital-encryptors?E=395469 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"