You may have seen some VPN providers boasting about using AES-256 encryption, but it’s not immediately apparent what this means or how it helps keep your data safe. Essentially, VPNs use ...

Encryption is essential for protecting data, with both symmetric and asymmetric methods offering unique advantages.

Proven hash algorithms like SHA-2, SHA-3, SM3, or (AES-)GHASH can be used for integrity protection purpose. Once one or more of the cipher algorithms are selected, the choice of secure modes of ...

In September 1997, the NIST issued a request for possiblecandidates for a new AES to replace the DES. In August 1998, NISTselected 15 candidate algorithms and in August 1999, announced fivefinalists: ...

But what this Fox-IT technique achieves is very close to that ideal, offering the ability to crack even complex AES-256bit encryption in a few minutes with relatively cheap, off-the-shelf hardware.

Concepts like TLS, RSA certificates, keys, AES encryption, and the like will seem far less foreign, and it’ll be a snap to evaluate how worthy a VPN is of your attention. Here’s how to get there.