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Stream Ciphers
Last Updated : 29 Mar, 2024

In stream cipher, one byte is encrypted at a time while in block cipher

~128 bits are encrypted at a time. Initially, a key(k) will be supplied as
input to pseudorandom bit generator and then it produces a random 8-bit
output which is treated as keystream. The resulted keystream will be of
size 1 byte, i.e., 8 bits. Stream ciphers are fast because they encrypt data
bit by bit or byte by byte, which makes them efficient for encrypting large
amounts of data quickly.Stream ciphers work well for real-time
communication, such as video streaming or online gaming, because they
can encrypt and decrypt data as it’s being transmitted.

Key Points of Stream Cipher

1. Stream Cipher follows the sequence of pseudorandom number stream.
2. One of the benefits of following stream cipher is to make cryptanalysis
more difficult, so the number of bits chosen in the Keystream must be
long in order to make cryptanalysis more difficult.
3. By making the key more longer it is also safe against brute force
attacks.
4. The longer the key the stronger security is achieved, preventing any
attack.
5. Keystream can be designed more efficiently by including more number
of 1s and 0s, for making cryptanalysis more difficult.
6. Considerable benefit of a stream cipher is, it requires few lines of code
compared to block cipher.

Encryption
For Encryption, Open In App
 Plain Text and Keystream produces Cipher Text (Same keystream will
be used for decryption.).
The Plaintext will undergo XOR operation with keystream bit-by-bit and
produces the Cipher Text.

Example:

Plain Text : 10011001

Keystream : 11000011

““““““““““`

Cipher Text : 01011010

Decryption
For Decryption,

Cipher Text and Keystream gives the original Plain Text (Same
keystream will be used for encryption.).
The Ciphertext will undergo XOR operation with keystream bit-by-bit
and produces the actual Plain Text.

Example:

Cipher Text : 01011010

Keystream : 11000011

“““““““““““

Plain Text : 10011001

Decryption is just the reverse process of Encryption i.e. performing XOR

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 Diagram of Stream Cipher

Common Stream Ciphers

When someone analyzes stream ciphers in general, they frequently bring
up RC4. Thoroughly used, this is the most extensively used stream cipher.

The RC4 cipher operates as follows:

There are many of alternative choices. Wikipedia provides a list of 25

distinct kinds of stream ciphers with a range of costs, speeds, and
complexity.

Creating a strong security system involves more than just selecting the
appropriate encryption technique. In addition, firewalls, appropriate
keyword storage, and staff training are necessary for data protection.

Advantages of Stream Ciphers

Stream ciphers have many advantages, such as:

Speed: Generally, this type of encryption is quicker than others, such as

block ciphers.
Low complexity: Stream ciphers are simple to implement into
contemporary software, and developers don’t require sophisticated
hardware to do so.
Sequential in nature: Certain companies handle communications
written in a continuous manner. Stream ciphers enable them to
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 transmit data when it’s ready instead of waiting for everything to be
finished because of their bit-by-bit processing.
Accessibility: Using symmetrical encryption methods like stream
ciphers saves businesses from having to deal with public and private
keys. Additionally, computers are able to select the appropriate
decryption key to utilize thanks to mathematical concepts behind
current stream ciphers.

Disadvantages of Stream Ciphers

If an error occurs during transmission, it can affect subsequent bits,
potentially corrupting the entire message because stream ciphers rely
on previously stored cipher bits for decryption
Maintaining and properly distributing keys to stream ciphers can be
difficult, especially in large systems or networks.
Some stream ciphers may be predictable or vulnerable to attack if their
key stream is not properly designed, potentially compromising the
security of the encrypted data.

Difference between Stream Cipher and Block Cipher

The symmetric key cipher family includes block ciphers and stream
ciphers. The techniques used to transform plaintext in ciphertext are both
of these block ciphers and stream cipher. A Block Cipher and a Stream
Cipher vary primarily in that a Block Cipher takes one block of plain text at
a time and transforms it into ciphertext. While the stream cipher takes one
byte of normal text at a time and converts it into cipher text.

Stream Cipher Block Cipher

By taking one bit of ordinary text at a time, the

Block Ciphers Encrypts
stream cipher transforms plain text into cipher
data in fixed-size blocks.
text.

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 Stream Cipher Block Cipher

It is basically used for

Used for data-in-transit encryption.
data-at-rest encryption.

It needs high processing

It requires low processing power.
power.

It requires high
It has low computational load.
computational load.

Stream Cipher cannot operate as a block Block ciphers can operate

cipher. as a stream cipher.

In short, stream ciphers encrypt data bit by byte as it is transmitted, while

block ciphers encrypt data of a fixed size at a time.

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