ConceptsBlock Cipher Mode

Block Cipher Mode

The method that determines how a block cipher like AES is applied to data longer than a single block, such as CBC, CTR, or GCM. The mode chosen critically affects security, and a poor choice can break confidentiality even with a strong cipher.

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Block Ciphers

The foundation Block Cipher Mode builds on, worth understanding first.

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Symmetric encryption algorithms that encrypt data in fixed-size blocks, such as AES with its 128-bit blocks. They are a fundamental building block of modern encryption when combined with a mode of operation.

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AES

The Advanced Encryption Standard, the most widely used symmetric encryption algorithm, meaning the same key encrypts and decrypts data. It protects data at rest and in transit and is considered secure when used correctly with key sizes of 128, 192, or 256 bits.

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