Wondering how encryption works.

[Thatsclear]

I'm just curious of an example of a encryption code? I mean AES256 for instance, is it just "ABCDF1873487934594DJHSGFD9584857HFKHFJKFHSF8957304" --- but 256 characters and that is what is done? Just some random string of letters precents people from hearing?

thanks

 

[a417]

Do you know how encryption in computers works?
Like when something is encryted to be sent and recieved, or are you asking for a really ELI5-type breakdown?

Understanding what you know (or think you know) will help the hive-mind here possibly help you.

This information is found all-over the internet, the only real functional difference with radios is that it is sent over RF...no wires.

You can go into any search engine on any platform and google "how encryption works" and find a very large amount of content out there.

 

[KevinC]

I'm just curious of an example of a encryption code?

0-9 and A-F. Such as...

0B561C11C750819B8675E2089E6298B3B614F99C763E33B3F4BAF42887F2C4AB

 

[kayn1n32008]

I'm just curious of an example of a encryption code? I mean AES256 for instance, is it just "ABCDF1873487934594DJHSGFD9584857HFKHFJKFHSF8957304" --- but 256 characters and that is what is done? Just some random string of letters precents people from hearing?

thanks

Not 256 characters, 256 bits.

 

[KevinC]

0-9 and A-F. Such as...

0B561C11C750819B8675E2089E6298B3B614F99C763E33B3F4BAF42887F2C4AB

And of course my example isn't...

a cryptographically strong key that involves 14 rounds of randomization, SHA-512, PBKDF2, HMAC, a 64 byte initial token, a 64 byte dynamic salt, and 1 million iterations

...but I seriously doubt anyone will figure out any key variable I use.

 

[GlobalNorth]

Learn quantum encryption. There's a ton of cash to be made in it and you'll single handedly earn an Intelligence Star medal from the IC.

 

[merlin]

Not too complicated. ALL trunking and DMR is digital weather voice or data. Encryption passes that data through an algorytm that permutes shifts, and obfuscates that digital stream (Cypher text). Now that algorythm uses a "KEY" to both encrypt and restore the original
back to plain text. That "KEY" is internally gennerated from a 'seed'. That seed may be 64 to 256 'bits'.
That means without that correct 'seed', there can be as many as 255^255 possible cobinations, and only one correct one to decypher the data stream.

 

[David628]

“I'm just curious of an example of a encryption code? I mean AES256 for instance, is it just "ABCDF1873487934594DJHSGFD9584857HFKHFJKFHSF8957304" --- but 256 characters and that is what is done? Just some random string of letters precents people from hearing?

thanks”


Searched google, maybe this?

(Very) Basic intro to AES-256 Cipher

AES stands for “Advanced Encryption Standard” and is a specification that has selected the Rijndael cipher as its symmetric key ciphering…

medium.com

 

[N4DES]

There are a lot of YouTube videos on the subject as well like this one.

 

[Forts]

As mentioned, AES256 is 256 *binary* bits, whereas DES is 64 and ADP/ARC4 is 40. These translate to a 32 byte, 8 byte and 5 byte hexidecimal key, which is the value that is typically entered into key loading device for the radio.

For example...
AES256 - 8F0284863DB01EB026A7C7599758F06936AC07526820C7463D2BFD8E0B858749
DES - C297B5B086BC0268
ADP - B4499FE923

 

[ladn]

Just some random string of letters precents people from hearing?

Part of the strength of the key is the number of elements (more elements=greater number of possible "answers").
Another part of this is how the key is derived or generated. A key that uses a predictable set of elements, like 000111222333444...EEEFFF would be less secure than a key derived from a true random number generator.

As I recall, the NSA has a subsidiary or affiliate that provides a key generation service based on a true random number generation algorithm. The keys are generated and transmitted securely to subscribers (think three letter government agencies and large state/local law enforcement) electronic key vaults and then loaded into equipment. There's no need for anyone to actually view the key's character string.

 

[AM909]

Randomness 101: LavaRand in Production

There's a wall of lava lamps in the lobby of our San Francisco office. We use it for cryptography. Here's how it works.

blog.cloudflare.com

 

[jimmy9999]

That "KEY" is internally gennerated from a 'seed'. That seed may be 64 to 256 'bits'.
That means without that correct 'seed', there can be as many as 255^255 possible cobinations, and only one correct one to decypher the data stream.

Not really.
A 64-bit key gives 2^64 or 256^8 possible keys.
A 128-bit key gives 2^128 or 256^16 possible keys.
A 256-bit key gives 2^256 or 256^32 possible keys.

 

[RayAir]

As mentioned, AES256 is 256 *binary* bits, whereas DES is 64 and ADP/ARC4 is 40. These translate to a 32 byte, 8 byte and 5 byte hexidecimal key, which is the value that is typically entered into key loading device for the radio.

For example...
AES256 - 8F0284863DB01EB026A7C7599758F06936AC07526820C7463D2BFD8E0B858749
DES - C297B5B086BC0268
ADP - B4499FE923

ADP- ABC123
DES- 0123456789ABCDEF

 

[mikewazowski]

Not too complicated. ALL trunking and DMR is digital weather voice or data.

All trunking is digital? Don't think so.

 

[Echo4Thirty]

And of course my example isn't...


...but I seriously doubt anyone will figure out any key variable I use.

I bet I know one.. lol xxxABC0000

 

[merlin]

Not really.
A 64-bit key gives 2^64 or 256^8 possible keys.
A 128-bit key gives 2^128 or 256^16 possible keys.
A 256-bit key gives 2^256 or 256^32 possible keys.

You are right, I stand corrected, still, 2 with 256 places is a lot of combinations.

 

[merlin]

All trunking is digital? Don't think so.

Yea, analog slipped my train of thought.

 

[krokus]

The Security Now podcast has episodes that explain encryption well. They are old episodes, so I would suggest using a search for them. All of the information is applicable to radio traffic that is encrypted, when using a digital radio format, such as P25, DMR, NXDN, etc.

 

[Thatsclear]

Wow such great info! Thanks so much!