Assessing the Strength of Hybrid Cryptographic Algorithms: A Comparative Study

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive information has become an increasingly challenging task. Encryption serves as a fundamental mechanism for protecting data from unau-theorized access and safeguarding its confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. However, with the proliferation of cyber threats and the advancement of cryptographic techniques, traditional encryption approaches may no longer provide adequate protection against sophisticated adversaries. To address these challenges, this research project explores the potential of hybrid encryption techniques in enhancing data protection. Specifically, we investigate the combination of RSA OAEP (Optimal Asymmetric Encryption Padding), a well-established asymmetric encryption algorithm known for its security and efficiency, with a range of complementary encryption schemes. These schemes include symmetric algorithms like AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and asymmetric algorithms such as ECIES (Elliptic Curve Integrated Encryption Scheme), ElGamal, and Paillier. Through comprehensive experimentation and analysis, we evaluate the security, efficiency, and practicality of each encryption combination. Key performance metrics, including key generation time, encryption time, decryption time, total processing time, and memory consumption, are measured and compared across different combinations. Our research aims to identify optimal solutions that strike a balance between security, efficiency, and practicality, thereby offering robust protection for sensitive information in various contexts. The findings of this research contribute to the advancement of encryption techniques and provide valuable insights for individuals, organizations, and governments seeking to enhance their data protection practices. By leveraging hybrid encryption techniques, we can effectively mitigate the risks posed by cyber threats and safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their data assets.