Net-centric networking environments are often faced with limited resources and must utilize bandwidth as efficiently as possible. In networking environments that span wide areas, the data transmission has to be efficient without any redundant or exuberant metadata.
The Autonomous Byte Stream Randomizer software provides an extra level of security on top of existing data encryption methods. Randomizing the data’s byte stream adds an extra layer to existing data protection methods, thus making it harder for an attacker to decrypt protected data. Based on a generated cryptographically secure random seed, a random sequence of numbers is used to intelligently and efficiently swap the organization of bytes in data using the unbiased and memory-efficient in place Fisher-Yates shuffle method.
Swapping bytes and reorganizing the crucial structure of the byte data renders the data file unreadable and leaves the data in a deconstructed state. This deconstruction adds an extra level of security requiring the byte stream to be reconstructed with the random seed in order to be readable. Once the data byte stream has been randomized, the software enables the data to be distributed to N nodes in an environment. Each piece of the data in randomized and distributed form is a separate entity unreadable on its own right, but when combined with all N pieces, is able to be reconstructed back to one.
Reconstruction requires possession of the key used for randomizing the bytes, leading to the generation of the same cryptographically secure random sequence of numbers used to randomize the data. This software is a cornerstone capability possessing the ability to generate the same cryptographically secure sequence on different machines and time intervals, thus allowing this software to be used more heavily in net-centric environments where data transfer bandwidth is limited.
This work was done by George K. Paloulian, Simon S. Woo, and Edward T. Chow of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Dan Broderick at
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Autonomous Byte Stream Randomizer
(reference NPO-48495) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document outlines the Autonomous Byte Stream Randomizer (NPO 48495), a software developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the California Institute of Technology, aimed at enhancing data security in networking environments. This software provides an additional layer of security on top of existing data encryption methods by randomizing the byte stream of any data file, making it virtually unreadable without the appropriate reconstruction key.
The core functionality of the software is based on the unbiased and memory-efficient in-place Fisher-Yates shuffle method, which intelligently rearranges the organization of bytes in a data file. This randomization process is driven by a cryptographically secure random seed, which generates a sequence of numbers used to swap bytes, effectively deconstructing the data. To read the data again, one must possess the same random seed used for the initial randomization, ensuring that only authorized users can reconstruct the original data.
The software is particularly beneficial in bandwidth-limited and ad hoc net-centric environments, where efficient data handling is crucial. It allows for the simultaneous processing of multiple input files and adapts to varying computational requirements, making it suitable for complex and heterogeneous networking scenarios. By breaking data into chunks and randomizing them, the software enhances information assurance and security management, making it significantly harder for attackers to decrypt protected data.
The document emphasizes the importance of this technology in tactical and mission-critical operations, where data protection is paramount. As communication technologies evolve, the need for efficient algorithms that can operate under minimal power requirements and limited resources becomes increasingly critical. The Autonomous Byte Stream Randomizer addresses these challenges by providing a robust solution for data protection in diverse networking environments.
In summary, the Autonomous Byte Stream Randomizer represents a significant advancement in data security technology, offering a unique approach to safeguarding sensitive information through byte stream randomization. Its capabilities make it a vital tool for ensuring data integrity and confidentiality in modern communication systems, particularly in scenarios where traditional encryption methods may fall short.
