Comparative Analysis of Symmetric Cryptographic Algorithms for Varying Text File Sizes

This research aims to investigate five different symmetric algorithms: AES, DES, 3DES, Rijndael, and RC2. The primary objective is to identify the most suitable algorithm for encrypting text files of varying sizes and to promote a positive cryptographic culture for text file security.

Each algorithm is evaluated based on its performance in encrypting and decrypting text files of different sizes, specifically 10 KB, 20 KB, 50 KB, 1 MB, 2 MB, and 5 MB. The study focuses on measuring the time duration each algorithm requires for these processes. While numerous encryption algorithms can secure computerized information across different organizations, the time efficiency of each algorithm varies with the size of the text file. Some algorithms perform optimally for small files, while others are more suitable for larger files.

In this study, five symmetric algorithms are integrated into a single program using object-oriented programming concepts such as classes and inheritance. The program automatically selects the appropriate encryption algorithm based on the size of the text file to be encrypted. The file size remains stable before and after encryption, ensuring the same process is applied during decryption. The encryption and decryption code is developed using Visual Studio 2013, and the results are analyzed using the R programming language.

The encrypted text, or ciphertext, is represented in UTF-8 format, where "UTF-8" stands for Unicode Transformation Format, with "8" indicating that each character is represented by 8 bits. The file sizes are measured in kilobytes (KB). The performance analysis prioritizes smaller text files and arranges the algorithms in ascending order of their suitability: AES, 3DES, DES, RC2, and Rijndael. AES is found to be most effective for small text files, while Rijndael is more suitable for larger text files.