In This Issue:
15 Candidates for Advanced Encryption Standard Chosen
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15 Candidates for Advanced Ecryption Standard Chosen
NIST has announced the acceptance of 15 encoding algorithms as candidates for the new Advanced Encryption Standard. Researchers from 12 different countries worked on developing the formulas unveiled at the First Advanced Encryption Standard Candidate Conference in Ventura, Calif., on Aug. 20-22, 1998.
NIST is inviting the worldwide cryptographic research community to "attack" the formulas in an attempt to break the codes during the first evaluation period, which will end April 15, 1999. Additionally, NIST will evaluate the algorithms for factors such as security and speed.
Five or fewer finalists will be identified by the end of the summer of 1999. NIST eventually will propose that one of these finalists be adopted as the AES. However, detailed analysis is required before this can happen, and the process is structured to build confidence in the AES. Consequently, the process is unlikely to be completed before 2001.
The AES will provide security for encrypted data. It will be a public algorithm designed to protect sensitive government information well into the next century. The AES will replace the Data Encryption Standard currently used by many federal agencies and businesses. NIST adopted DES in 1977 as a Federal Information Processing Standard for use by federal agencies to encrypt sensitive information.
NIST has accepted the following algorithms as candidates. The list includes the algorithm name, the submitters' names, and submitters' countries:
- CAST-256--Entrust Technologies, Canada
- CRYPTON--Future Systems Inc., South Korea
- DEAL--Richard Outerbridge and Lars Knudsen, Canada and Norway
- DFC--Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique, France
- E2--Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., Japan
- FROG--TecApro Internacional S.A., Costa Rica
- HPC--(Hasty Pudding Cipher) Rich Schroeppel, U.S.A.
- LOKI97--Lawrie Brown, Josef Pieprzyk and Jennifer Seberry, Australia
- MAGENTA--Deutsche Telekom AG, Germany
- MARS--IBM Corp., U.S.A.
- RC6--RSA Laboratories, U.S.A.
- Rijndael--Joan Daemen and Vincent Rijmen, Belgium
- SAFER+ Cylink Corp., U.S.A.
- SERPENT--Ross Anderson, Eli Biham and Lars Knudsen, U.K., Israel and Norway
- TWOFISH--Bruce Schneier, John Kelsey, Doug Whiting, David Wagner, Chris Hall and Niels Ferguson, U.S.A.
More information about the AES is available at http://www.nist.gov/aes. A list of press contacts at the organizations that have submitted candidate algorithms can be obtained at http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/n98-15.htm or by faxing a request to (301) 926-1630.
Media Contact:
Philip Bulman, (301) 975-5661
New Primer Helps Improve Use of Electron-Beam Moiré Technique
Engineers and researchers in the area of electronics packaging will want to get a new publication from NIST that describes procedures for the relatively new electron-beam moiré technique which measures submicrometer strains on a local scale in electronic packaging. In particular, it can measure the thermomechanical displacement caused by thermal expansion mismatches among the various materials used in an electronic package.
Measurements of displacements can be used to validate computer models or otherwise contribute to the assessment of the reliability of the packaging. The new publication describes the background, setup and procedures for the electron-beam moiré technique and is intended to give readers enough information so that they can conduct an experiment in their own laboratories. Such experiments would include a scanning electron microscope, access to electron-beam or other type of lithography process, and computers to run the lithography process and aid in reducing and analyzing the data.
The publication covers specimen preparation, electron-beam lithography, thermal testing, mechanical testing and analysis of the moiré fields. It also contains, as appendices, nine papers on electron-beam moiré theory and applications by NIST authors. A program disk is included with the publication.
To order a single, free copy of Procedures for the Electron-Beam Moiré Technique (NIST Technical Note 1500-2), contact Elizabeth S. Drexler, MC 853.08, NIST, Boulder, Colo. 80303-3337, (303) 497-5350, drexler@boulder.nist.gov.
Media Contact:
Fred McGehan (Boulder), (303) 497-3246
Brochure Details Valuable Standards Resource
Now in its 33rd year of operation, the NIST-managed National Center for Standards and Certification Information serves as a referral service and focal point in the United States for up-to-date information about standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment programs--domestic, foreign and international. The center's staff respond to inquiries, maintain a reference collection of standards and standards-related documents, and operate two telephone hotlines that provide information on proposed foreign technical regulations issued by the World Trade Organization (301-975-4041) and draft European Union/European Communities standards (301-921-4164).
A new brochure prepared by NIST's Standards Information Program details the services offered by the NCSCI. The document explains how the center operates, describes the reference collection and guides potential users on the best ways to access the many resources available.
Copies of the brochure may be obtained by sending a self-addressed mailing label to the NSCSI, Bldg. 820, Rm. 164, NIST, Gaithersburg, Md. 20899-0001. Copies also may be requested by calling (301) 975-4040, faxing (301) 926-1559 or sending electronic mail to ncsci@nist.gov.
Media Contact:
Mark Bello, (301) 975-3776
Upgraded Website Keeps the Millennium Bug from Bugging
Free software that assesses "millennium bug" problems is only one of many features on the new and improved NIST Year 2000 World Wide Web page located at http://www.nist.gov/y2k. NIST's Information Technology Laboratory recently redesigned the page, making it easier to navigate and more comprehensive in the services it offers. For example, new documents now are added on a regular basis to ensure timely information. Perhaps most importantly for the weary web traveler, the page includes links to a selective list of outstanding and informative Year 2000 web sites run by industry and government groups.
NIST has developed a variety of programs to help both small and large companies in the Year 2000 conversion process. The projects are part of a larger effort coordinated by the President's Council on the Year 2000 Conversion.
For technical information, contact Gary E. Fisher, Bldg. 820, Rm. 562, NIST, Gaithersburg, Md. 20899-0001, (301) 975-3275.
Media Contact:
Philip Bulman, (301) 975-5661
N-West to Help Set Direction for Wireless Industry
The National Wireless Electronic Systems Testbed, a new measurements and standards resource, recently began its effort to create and carry out tests and measurements, and promote sound operational standards and specifications for the broadband wireless industry. These are considered essential for rapid development of newly allocated wireless spectrum.
N-WEST is oriented toward broadband wireless access, which will offer high-speed two-way data, Internet, telephone and video services to businesses, schools, libraries, health care providers and eventually, private homes. "Hub" transceivers on towers spaced a few kilometers apart each will serve up to several thousand customers with small rooftop antennas. One of N-WEST's primary concerns is the Local Multipoint Distribution Service, a recently auctioned block of spectrum around 28-31 gigahertz.
N-WEST is a project of NIST and another Commerce Department agency, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. N-WEST currently is organizing an industry standardization effort in conjunction with service providers, system integrators, component manufacturers and others.
For more information, contact Roger B. Marks, MC 813.06, NIST, Boulder, Colo. 80303-3337, (303) 497-3037; or visit the N-WEST Website at http://nwest.nist.gov.
Media Contact:
Collier Smith (Boulder), (303) 497-3198
Last Chance to Sign Up for Fall Biometric Workshop
Traditional biometrics (the ability to automatically recognize a person using distinguishing traits) such as fingerprints have been a staple for law enforcement agencies for decades.
Modern biometrics, however, offer an ever expanding set of new recognition technologies, including hand geometry, iris structure, voice identification, facial characteristics and even vein patterns found on the back of hands. Systems incorporating these new biometrics already are in use or being tested in a wide range of places where restricted access assures security. The systems can be found in hospital nurseries, airports, border crossings and laboratories.
Some experts believe biometrics also will play a key role in the development of a digital economy, as more companies use the systems to assure secure electronic commerce transactions.
Biometrics can add security to e-commerce, augmenting techniques such as cryptography. To address this issue and others important to the field, NIST is sponsoring the Biometric Consortium Fall '98 Workshop on emerging technologies on Sept. 22, 1998, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. Featured speakers will include leaders from the financial services, computer and biometrics industries and from universities and government agencies.
The workshop, which is open to everyone including non-Biometric Consortium members, will be conducted in cooperation with CardTech/SecurTech with support provided by Tracor System Engineering. The Biometric Consortium, created in 1992, serves as a federal government focal point for research, development, testing, evaluation and application of biometric-based personal identification/authentication technology.
Media Contact:
Philip Bulman, (301) 975-5661
U.S. Department of Commerce
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National Institute of Standards and Technology
Editor: Michael
Newman
HTML conversion: Crissy Wines
Last updated: August 31, 1998
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