Securing Student Data Privacy using Modified Snake and Ladder Cryptographic Algorithm

Abstract

Transformed by the advent of the Digital Revolution, the world deals with a gold mine of data every day. Along with improvement in processing methods for the data, data security is of utmost importance. Recently, there was a noticeable surge in online learning during the pandemic. Modifying their workflow strategies, the educational institutions provided courses for students designed to suit the need of the hour. This opened up the avenue for a greater number of students to take part in the online learning. With the increase in number of students registered, there exist a substantial repository of data to deal with. Hackers have been targeting student data and using it for illegal purposes. In this research paper, an attempt has been made by modifying the classic Snake and Ladder game to perform encryption on short text student data to ensure data privacy. The Novel algorithm maintains simplicity yet produces a strong cipher text. The algorithm stands strong against the brute-force attack, cipher-only attack, etc. Decryption also uses same key as used for encryption, the key being symmetric in nature. New variable keys are generated every time the algorithm is used.