Recent advances in stream cipher cryptanalysis (Q2774641)

A survey of recent contributions to the analysis of stream ciphers is presented. Emphasis is put on novel approaches, concepts, and results. According to the paper, the most important design strategy for a stream cipher should be resistance to known and foreseeable cryptanalytic attacks of various types. Although an efficient attack is typically considered for a concrete structure, most attacks are based on more general cryptanalytic methods and principles that apply to a wider class of stream ciphers. For some attacks, the resistance can be achieved by satisfying a set of derived design criteria. Accordingly, developing various cryptanalytic principles, methods, and concrete attacks is necessary for achieving a reasonable level of scientific rather than just an intuitive confidence in the practical security of stream ciphers. Also, the paper points out related open mathematical and research problems.