Article: Cryptanalysis of Markle-Hellman knapsack cipher using nature inspired algorithms Journal: International Journal of Applied Cryptography (IJACT) 2024 Vol.5 No.1 pp.41 - 56 Abstract: In this paper, the cryptanalysis of the Markle-Hellman knapsack cipher is demonstrated using nature inspired algorithms (NIA). The proposed knapsack cipher cryptanalysis algorithms are based on the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA), grey wolf optimisation (GWO), and the Harris Hawk optimisation (HHO) technique. A chosen plaintext attack (CPA) has been executed using these algorithms to recover the plaintext. While executing these experiments, we also found fascinating properties of these different nature-inspired algorithms according to their working strategies. A better experimental result was obtained from the Harris Hawk optimisation (HHO) technique, though the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) and grey wolf optimisation (GWO) also gave satisfactory results. A Friedman test was used to confirm HHO as the best algorithm in this cryptanalysis context. We compared HHO, GWO, and CSA with previous cryptanalysis using the binary firefly algorithm (BFA) and differential evolutionary algorithm (DEA), showing that our results outperform the previous ones. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Cryptanalysis of Markle-Hellman knapsack cipher using nature inspired algorithms

Authors: Subinoy Sikdar; Joydeep Biswas; Malay Kule

Addresses: Department of Computer Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah, India ' Department of Computer Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah, India ' Department of Computer Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah, India

Abstract: In this paper, the cryptanalysis of the Markle-Hellman knapsack cipher is demonstrated using nature inspired algorithms (NIA). The proposed knapsack cipher cryptanalysis algorithms are based on the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA), grey wolf optimisation (GWO), and the Harris Hawk optimisation (HHO) technique. A chosen plaintext attack (CPA) has been executed using these algorithms to recover the plaintext. While executing these experiments, we also found fascinating properties of these different nature-inspired algorithms according to their working strategies. A better experimental result was obtained from the Harris Hawk optimisation (HHO) technique, though the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) and grey wolf optimisation (GWO) also gave satisfactory results. A Friedman test was used to confirm HHO as the best algorithm in this cryptanalysis context. We compared HHO, GWO, and CSA with previous cryptanalysis using the binary firefly algorithm (BFA) and differential evolutionary algorithm (DEA), showing that our results outperform the previous ones.

Keywords: cryptanalysis; knapsack cipher; cuckoo search algorithm; CSA; grey wolf optimisation; GWO; Harris Hawk optimisation; HHO; nature inspired optimisation algorithms; Friedman test.

DOI: 10.1504/IJACT.2024.144918

International Journal of Applied Cryptography, 2024 Vol.5 No.1, pp.41 - 56

Received: 07 Mar 2024
Accepted: 27 Jul 2024
Published online: 10 Mar 2025 *

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Title: Cryptanalysis of Markle-Hellman knapsack cipher using nature inspired algorithms

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