SHA-3 hash function

Standard hash functions are used for efficient and secure information processing in many commercial applications. In the wake of successful cryptanalysis of several standard hash functions and their impact on the security of the several information processing applications, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA has announced an international public competition to select the most secure and efficient hash function as the Advanced Hash Standard which will be referred to as SHA-3. The SHA-3 hash function augments the current secure hash standard FIPS 180-2 issued by NIST in 2002 and can be directly substituted for the hash functions in the FIPS 180-2 standard in the applications.

Rigorous analysis of AHS submissions is quite essential in eliminating ineffective proposals and consequently in successful completion of the competition to select a hash function standard that would be capable of protecting the sensitive information for a foreseeable future. This research project aims to contribute to the selection of the new hash standard by carrying out the Analysis of some of the latest hash function designs and their applications in addition to the analysis of some of the hash function submissions to the AHS.