Randomness Testing of the Advanced Encryption Standard Candidate Algorithms

摘要

One of the criteria used to evaluate the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)211u001ecandidate algorithms was their demonstrated suitability as random number 211u001egenerators. That is, the evaluation of their outputs utilizing statistical tests 211u001eshould not provide any means by which to computationally distinguish them from 211u001etruly random sources. The evaluation reported on focused on 128-bit keys. This 211u001epaper lists several characteristics that an encryption algorithm exhibiting 211u001erandom behavior should possess, describes how the output for each candidate 211u001ealgorithm was evaluated for randomness, discusses what has been learned utilizing 211u001ethe NIST statistical tests, and finally provides an interpretation of the 211u001eresults. At least 135 distinct data sets were obtained, analyzed and re-analyzed 211u001eto ensure accuracy.