PHAL-256 – Parameterized Hash Algorithm

PHAL-256 (Parameterized Hash ALgorithm) is a proposal of a new dedicated hash algorithm designed as an answer to weaknesses of MD/SHA family. Recently proposed attacks on well-known and widely used hash functions motivate a design of new hash functions. In this paper new approach is presented, where a few elements of hash function are parameterized. This approach makes the hash algorithm more secure and more flexible. PHAL-256 consists of two mechanisms: new iteration schema and dedicated compression function.