A new spectral test for nonrandomness and the DES

Author

Feldman, Frank A.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys. & Eng., Suffolk Univ., Boston, MA, USA

Volume

16

Issue

3

fYear

1990

fDate

3/1/1990 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

261

Lastpage

267

Abstract

A test for detecting the nonrandomness of finite binary strings is proposed. This test, based on an evaluation of the power spectrum of a finite string, extends and quantifies a similar test proposed by J. Gait (see ibid., vol.3, no.5, p.359-63, 1977). As an empirical measure of the sensitivity of the test, it was compared with a chi-square test for uniformity of distribution, which also measures nonrandomness. This comparison was performed by applying each of these tests to binary strings produced using short-round versions of the data encryption standard (DES) in output-feedback mode. By varying the number of DES rounds from 1 to 16, it was possible to gradually vary the degree of randomness of the resulting strings. The degree of randomness of the DES, including the 15 short-round versions, was also assessed. Only ensembles generated by one and two round versions were rejected as random

Keywords

cryptography; program testing; standards; statistical analysis; word processing; DES rounds; chi-square test; data encryption standard; empirical measure; finite binary strings; nonrandomness; output-feedback mode; power spectrum; short-round versions; spectral test; Art; Gaussian noise; Noise measurement; Performance evaluation; Physics; Power measurement; Statistical analysis; Statistics; Testing; Wideband;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Software Engineering, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0098-5589

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/32.48934

Filename

48934