Enhancing MD5 hash algorithm using symmetric key encryption

Abstract

Message integrity and authenticity is crucial with ever increasing network communication. Cryptographic Hash Functions are main building block of message integrity. Many types of hash functions are being used and developed. In this paper, a new keyed hash function is being proposed and described. This proposed algorithm produces a hash code of 128 bits for an arbitrary length of input. The function uses a key during hashing, so that any intruder who does not know the key cannot forge the hash code, and, thus it satisfies the purpose of security, authentication and integrity for a message in network. The paper discusses the algorithm on the function design, its security aspects and implementation details.