Sony and Nagoya University Develop Next Generation Cryptographic Hash Algorithm

Tokyo, Dec 15, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - Sony Corporation today announced "AURORA"[2], a new secure and efficient cryptographic hash algorithm[1] developed in cooperation with Tetsu Iwata, Associate Professor, Nagoya University. This technology is essential in the growing field of digital signatures[3] and other security measures used in recent consumer electronics products. "AURORA" maintains high security levels while providing both efficient software and hardware implementation capabilities. Sony and Nagoya University have submitted "AURORA" for consideration in the "SHA-3 competition", a selection process for next generation cryptographic hash functions[4] overseen by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)[5]. In recent years, the rapid advancement of cryptanalytic technologies[6] such as SHA-1 and MD5[7], capable of deciphering cryptographic hash functions, have increased the requirement for new types of hash functions that feature the properties to withstand this progress.