New Designs in Lightweight Symmetric Encryption

Abstract

In this article, we consider new trends in the design of ultra-lightweight symmetric encryption algorithms. New lightweight designs for both block and stream ciphers as well as the underlying hardware design rationale are discussed. It is shown that secure block ciphers can be built with about 1,500 gate equivalences and, interestingly, it seems that modern lightweight block ciphers can have similar hardware requirements to lightweight stream ciphers.