Blowfish is an encryption algorithm that can be used as a replacement for the DES or IDEA algorithms. It is a symmetric (that is, a secret or private key) block cipher that uses a variable-length key, from 32 bits to 448 bits, making it useful for both domestic and exportable use. (The U. S. government forbids the exportation of encryption software using keys larger than 40 bits except in special cases.) Blowfish was designed in 1993 by Bruce Schneier as an alternative to existing encryption algorithms. Designed with 32-bit instruction processors in mind, it is significantly faster than DES. Since its origin, it has been analyzed considerably. Blowfish is unpatented, license-free, and available free for all uses.
Contributor(s): Orion Pronk
This was last updated in April 2005
Email Alerts
Register now to receive SearchSecurity.com-related news, tips and more, delivered to your inbox.
By submitting you agree to receive email from TechTarget and its partners. If you reside outside of the United States, you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States.
Privacy
More News and Tutorials
-
Adobe Reader X uses Microsoft's sandboxing technology to block potentially dangerous processes from executing beyond the confines of the software.
-
Microsoft repaired four vulnerabilities in its Forefront Unified Access Gateway and a critical flaw in Microsoft Office.
-
Download the entire October 2010 issue of Information Security magazine here in PDF format.
-
Articles
-
Resources from around the Web