The Study and Security Analysis of HC Stream Cipher

In recent years, almost all systems using linear feedback shift storage device (LFSR) design of stream ciphers have been cracked by Algebraic attack. In light of this, finding a modern cipher that avoids old security issues with design of both security and performance becomes an important issue. In 2004, European Union initiated the selection of a new streaming secret (eSTREAM), which is analogous to United States’ formulation of AES block density standards. Forty eight candidates were chosen after public screening, review and final selection process. Details were published in May 2008 results report. This article is to discuss eSTREAM stream cipher. eSTREAM was part of group of eight surviving third phase of software selection process focusing on HC stream cipher for research. In recent years, stream cipher attack studies have been very popular, especially employing Distinguishing Attack. This article also performed security analysis for HC stream cipher, and proposes a design for a reduced version of HC-256. The reduced version of HC-256 is comparable to original HC-256 in terms of resistance to distinguishing attacks. This new generation of core stream cipher algorithm design can help understand implications of theory and application of mathematical practices towards research and analysis of stream ciphers.