A hardware implementation of MD4-family hash algorithms

This article presents the design of an integrated circuit which is able to perform various different hash algorithms of the MD4 family. Hash algorithms are used for digital signature schemes, data integrity, message authentication, and other cryptographic purposes (password protection, electronic bidding, confirmation of knowledge). The MD4 family is a group of hash algorithms which have similar properties. These properties can be exploited to build a universal hardware module for an efficient calculation of these hash algorithms. Special attention was turned to a well-structured hardware design.