SHA3-224 hash

 

About SHA3-224 hash

SHA3-224 is a cryptographic hash function that belongs to the SHA-3 (Secure Hash Algorithm 3) family. It was standardized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2015 as part of the SHA-3 competition, which aimed to find a new cryptographic hash standard to complement the existing SHA-2 family.

Characteristics of SHA3-224

  1. Fixed-Length Output:

    • SHA3-224 produces a fixed-length output of 224 bits (28 bytes), regardless of the input data's length.

  2. Input Padding:

    • Unlike SHA-2, SHA3 uses a different padding scheme. The input message is padded with a single '1' bit followed by a series of '0' bits until reaching the desired block size. Unlike SHA-2, the padding is not bit-oriented, but rather uses a byte-oriented padding for efficiency and performance.

  3. Processing in Blocks:

    • SHA3-224 processes input in a different manner from SHA-2, using a permutation-based sponge construction. The input message is divided into blocks, and each block is processed iteratively through a permutation function.

  4. Initialization:

    • SHA3-224 has an internal state of 1600 bits, which is organized into a 5x5 matrix of 64-bit lanes. This state is initialized to a fixed value before processing begins.

  5. Compression Function:

    • SHA3-224 uses a sponge construction with a permutation function known as Keccak-f. This function operates on the internal state in rounds, mixing and transforming the bits based on a set of defined rules.

Algorithm Steps

  1. Initialization:

    • Initialize the internal state and set parameters such as the rate and capacity of the sponge construction.

  2. Absorbing Phase:

    • Absorb the input message by XORing it with portions of the internal state and applying the permutation function iteratively.

  3. Squeezing Phase:

    • Extract the hash value from the final state after all input blocks have been absorbed. This is done by reading out the desired number of bits from the internal state.

  4. Output:

    • The final output is the 224-bit hash value derived from the squeezing phase of the sponge construction.

Security and Usage

  • Security:

    • SHA3-224 provides strong security guarantees against collision attacks, preimage attacks, and second-preimage attacks. Its design and use of the sponge construction with Keccak-f ensure robust resistance against cryptanalytic attacks.

  • Usage:

    • SHA3-224 is suitable for various cryptographic applications where a 224-bit hash value is needed, such as digital signatures, message authentication codes (MACs), and integrity verification.
    • It is particularly recommended in new applications or environments where the use of SHA-3 for cryptographic hashing is preferred over SHA-2 due to specific security requirements or considerations.

Summary

SHA3-224 is a cryptographic hash function standardized by NIST as part of the SHA-3 family. It produces a fixed-length hash value of 224 bits using a sponge construction with the Keccak-f permutation function. SHA3-224 offers strong security properties, including resistance to various types of attacks, making it suitable for a wide range of cryptographic applications where data integrity and authenticity are critical. Its adoption continues to grow in security-critical systems due to its design and robustness against cryptographic attacks.