- Link
encryption method is one of the classic methods used in the digital
communications for the application of the crypto.
- Link encryption method has
been designed for hiding the secrets and preventing the forgery of data.
- It is
quite a simple concept that has been discussed here and it fits for all the
types of existing applications and software used in the communication.
- Even though this method does not works well
enough for most of the applications, it is the simplest of all.
- Link encryption
method is a security measure that should be used only if your security
objectives match with those of the link encryption method.
- It is commonly used
in the applications where a boundary has to be maintained between the internal
users and the external users.
- With the link encryption it gets easy for the
internal users to share data whereas it is just the opposite for the external
users.
- It provides transparent protection except for the separation that is
maintained between the two classes of the users.
Below we mention some security
objectives that can be met with the link encryption:
Ø Maintaining
confidentiality: Our systems of course store very sensitive data. While
exchanging the data with other systems, it is required that the risk of leakage
involved should be as minimum as possible.
Ø Communication
with the outsiders: Obviously, we do not want to share our data with the
unwanted outsiders and unauthorized sites and so we want these to be blocked. Such exchanges should be prevented
from happening even by carelessness or accident.
Ø Hiding
data traffic: As much as possible we want our data and its details to be
shielded from the outsiders. This data might contain information about the
destination host and other info necessary for communication control. However,
here it is assumed that the information will not be leaked by the insiders.
Ø Familiarity
and safety: We rank these two factors above the cost.
Ø Protection
of the data transfers: We need protection for our data against any sort of tampering
or forgery by the outsiders during the transition. An assurance is important. This objective is unconditionally met by this
link encryption method.
- From
security standpoint, a design is yielded by the link encryption that is highly
reliable.
- If in your organization some security parameter has been established
that is strong enough, link encryption is the best technique for its
maintenance.
- A strict control is kept over the flow of physical documents
through this security parameter.
- The link encryption provides a complementary
protection for the flow of the electronic documents.
- We can have an environment
with every data link that traverses the boundary having encryptors.
- The
documents will be kept within the parameter limits.
- The data leaving the parameter
will be protector by means of the encryptors.
- Link encryption method is being
used since years in banking organizations and military communications for
providing secure links.
- The link encryption uses the in-line encryptors as
its building blocks.
- This hardware devices takes plain text and converts it
into cipher text.
The encryptors have their own vulnerabilities as mentioned
below:
Ø Rewrite
attacks: It is also known as the plain-text attack, it is used for forging the
messages. Few crypto algorithms are vulnerable to these attacks.
Ø Replay
attacks: Most of us think that the encrypted data is self-validating and so
by matching the encryptor with its keys a sensibly de-crypting message can be
generated. Since the encrypted data is accessible to the outsiders, they can
also access the message that decrypts sensibly.
Ø Covert
signaling attacks: This attack is based on the idea that there is always a way
to leak info if there exists an internal process that tries to do so.
