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Difference Between Confusion and Diffusion

Cyber security

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100 views

Difference Between Confusion and Diffusion

Cyber security

Uploaded by

221002585
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Difference between Confusion and Diffusion

In cryptography, confusion and diffusion are two properties of the operation of a secure
cipher. Both Confusion and Diffusion are used to stop the deduction of the secret writing
key, these properties, when present, work to thwart the application of statistics and other
methods of cryptanalysis.
Confusion is employed for making uninformed cipher text whereas diffusion is employed
for increasing the redundancy of the plain text over the foremost part of the cipher text to
make it obscure. The block cipher solely depends on diffusion, where else, confusion is
employed by both stream and block cipher.
What is Confusion?
In general, the idea of confusion is to obscure the relationship between the key and the
plaintext on one hand, and the ciphertext on the other. This is usually done by intricate
methods of substitution, by replacing one piece of data with another in a disorderly
disordered way. The use of confusion makes it possible to design the key in a way that even
if the attacker has part of the key, it will not be possible to deduce the other part of the key.
Example: The introduction of confusion is done through a substitution cipher whereby
each letter of the plaintext is replaced by a different letter in accordance with a relatively
complicated set of rules.
Confusion = Substitution
a --> b
Example : Caesar Cipher
What is Diffusion?
While in diffusion, it is a cryptographic technique that would ensure that the effect of one
or one plaintext digit would be evenly spread out to a number of ciphertext digits, thereby
minimizing on the redundancy on the plaintext. The aim here is to spread the statistical
structure of the plaintext over the entire ciphertext so as to mask patterns of data. It is
usually done by use of permutation as well as; transposition.
Example: In a block cipher, diffusion is responsible for the occurrence in which change in
one bit of the plaintext has an influence on many bits of the ciphertext so as to make it
difficult for attackers to identify any patterns.
Diffusion = Transposition or Permutation
abcd --> dacb
Example : DES
Difference Between Confusion and Diffusion

Confusion Diffusion

Confusion is a cryptographic technique Diffusion is used to create cryptic plain


that is used to create faint cipher texts. texts.

Confusion is possible through Diffusion is possible through transposition


substitution algorithms. algorithms.

In confusion, if one bit within the secret In diffusion, if one image within the plain
is modified, most or all bits within the text is modified, many or all image within
cipher text also will be modified. the cipher text also will be modified

In confusion, vagueness is increased in In diffusion, redundancy is increased in the


resultant. resultant.

Both stream cipher and block cipher use


Only block cipher use diffusion.
confusion.

The relation between the cipher text and The relation between the cipher text and the
the key is masked by confusion. plain text is masked by diffusion.

Conclusion
Named confusion and diffusion, both are equally essential to the modern encryption
algorithms’ robustness. Where as confusion conceals the link between the cipher text and
the key, diffusion guarantees that the cipher throroughly scatters the impact of the plain
text. Both of them contribute to the effective safeguard against the cryptographic attacks
which makes encrypted data more secure.

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