krüpteerimisblokke

Krüpteerimisblokke, known in English as encryption blocks or cryptographic blocks, are fundamental components in many modern encryption algorithms, particularly symmetric encryption methods like block ciphers. They refer to the fixed-size chunks of data that are processed by the encryption or decryption algorithm. The size of this block is a critical parameter of the cipher. For example, the widely used AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) operates on 128-bit blocks.

The process of encryption typically involves taking a plaintext block and applying a series of mathematical operations, often called rounds, using a secret key. This transforms the plaintext block into a ciphertext block of the same size. Decryption reverses this process, using the same key to transform the ciphertext block back into the original plaintext block.

Block ciphers are designed to encrypt data in discrete, fixed-size units. When the data to be encrypted is larger than a single block, various modes of operation (such as Electronic Codebook (ECB), Cipher Block Chaining (CBC), or Counter (CTR)) are employed to handle the multiple blocks. These modes dictate how successive blocks are processed and how the output of one block affects the next, significantly impacting the security of the overall encryption. The choice of block size and mode of operation is crucial for ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of encrypted information.