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Home > NSA encryption algorithms


The vast majority of the National Security Agency's work on encryption is classified, but from time to time NSA participates in standards processes or otherwise publishes information about its cryptographic algorithms. The following is a brief and incomplete summary of public knowledge about NSA algorithms and protocols.

See also NSA encryption systems.

1 Type 1

Name Type Specification Use Equipment (incomplete list)
ACCORDIAN (or ACCORDION) R21-TECH-13-00, "ACCORDIAN 3.0 Specification" (August 2000) AIM (1999 and 2004 brochures), SafeXcel-3340
BATON Block cipher Various PKCS #11, CDSA/CSSM , AIM (1999 and 2004 brochures), Cypris , APCO Project 25, MYK-85 , Fortezza Plus, SecNet-11 , Sierra , SafeXcel-3340
BAYLESS Cypris
BYTEMAN Cypris
CARDIGAN Cypris
CARDHOLDER Satellite uplink command encryption Cypris , KI-17 , U-AYJ Flight Decrypt Chip (Cardholder), Flight Encrypt Chip (Cardholder), MYK-16 , CXS-810 , CXS-2000 , MCU-100 , MCU-600
CARIBOU Satellite uplink command encryption U-TXZ , MYK-15A
CRAYON AIM (2004 brochure), Cypris (4 modes)
FASTHASH Cryptographic hash function MISSI Type 1 hash PKCS #11, CDSA/CSSM
FIREFLY EKMS public-key cooperative key generation AIM (2004), SafeXcel-3340
HAVE QUICKHAVE QUICK is a military system to protect UHF radio traffic. Since the end of World War II U. and allied military aircraft have used AM radios in the 225-400 MHz UHF band for short range air-to-air and ground-to-air communications. Military planners made Antijam, LPI/LPD airborne voice communication Cypris
JACKNIFE AIM (2004)
JOSEKI R21-TECH-0062-92, "JOSEKI-1, A Bootstrap Procedures" (Oct. 1992) (also R21-TECH-13-97, R21-TECH-13-98) Protection of secret algorithms in firmwareIn computing, firmware is software that is embedded in a hardware device, that allows reading and executing the software, but does not allow modification, e. writing or deleting data by an end user. Examples of firmware include: the BIOS found in personal AIM
JUNIPER Block cipher PKCS #11, CDSA/CSSM
KEESEE AIM (1999 and 2004 brochures), Cypris
Mark XII IFF IFF secondary radar AIM (2004 brochure)
MAYFLY Asymmetric-key algorithm PKCS #11, CDSA/CSSM
MEDLEY R21-TECH-30-01, "MEDLEY Implementation Standard" (Nov. 2001) AIM (2004) , SecNet 54 , SafeXcel-3340
PEGASUS Satellite telemetry and mission data downlinks KG-227 , KG-228 , KI-17 , U-BLW Pegasus Space Microcircuit Chip, U-BLX Pegasus Ground Microcircuit Chip, MYK-17 , CXS-810 , CXS-2000 , MCU-100 , MCU-600
PHALANX AIM (1999 and 2004 brochures), Cypris (PHALANX I and PHALANX II)
SAVILLESAVILLE is an NSA Type 1 encryption algorithm. It is used broadly, often for voice encryption, and implemented in a large number of encryption devices. Little is known publically about the algorithm itself. Some documentation related to the KYK-13 fill de Low-bandwidth voice (and sometimes data) encryption AIM (1999 and 2004 brochures), Cypris (2 modes), Windster (SAVILLE I), VINSONVINSON is a family of voice encryption devices used by U. and allied military and law enforcement, based on the SAVILLE encryption algorithm and 16 Kbps CVSD audio compression. It replaces the Vietnam War-era NESTOR ( KY-8/ 28/ 38) family. VINSON devices
VALLOR TTY broadcasts to submarines AIM (2004)
WALBURN High-bandwidth link encryption AIM (2004) , KG-81 / 94 / 194 / 95
PADSTONE Cypris (2 modes), Windster , Indictor
WEASEL SafeXcel-3340




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