Performance Analysis of RSA–RC4 Hybrid Encryption Using the EM2B Key Generator
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30865/ijics.v10i2.9992Keywords:
Cryptography, RSA, RC4, EM2B, Key GeneratorAbstract
This study evaluates the computational performance of a hybrid encryption scheme that combines RSA for key protection, RC4 for file encryption, and the EM2B mechanism for deterministic key expansion. The prototype was implemented as a PHP-based application and tested on 35 SQL text files. RC4 was used as the baseline, while the hybrid scheme was assessed using ciphertext size, character count, encryption time, decryption time, and restoration success. The reported averages show that RC4 required 1.33 s for encryption and 1.41 s for decryption, whereas RSA–EM2B–RC4 required 5.30 s and 100.09 s, respectively. The hybrid scheme also produced approximately 4.29 times greater ciphertext storage than RC4 alone. All files were restored to the same reported size after decryption; however, byte-level or hash-based integrity verification was not performed. Therefore, the results demonstrate functional implementation and quantify computational overhead, but they do not establish superior cryptographic security. RC4 is retained only as an experimental legacy baseline because current standards deprecate its operational use. Future evaluation should include authenticated encryption, entropy and randomness testing, key-sensitivity analysis, repeated timing trials, and cryptographic hash verification of restored files.
References
[1] E. Barker, Recommendation for Key Management: Part 1—General, NIST Special Publication 800-57 Part 1 Rev. 5. Gaithersburg, MD, USA: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2020, doi: 10.6028/NIST.SP.800-57pt1r5.
[2] K. Moriarty, B. Kaliski, J. Jonsson, and A. Rusch, “PKCS #1: RSA Cryptography Specifications Version 2.2,” RFC 8017, Nov. 2016, doi: 10.17487/RFC8017.
[3] Y. Sheffer, P. Saint-Andre, and T. Fossati, “Recommendations for Secure Use of Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS),” RFC 9325, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.17487/RFC9325.
[4] L. Velvindron, “Deprecating RC4 in Secure Shell (SSH),” RFC 8758, Apr. 2020, doi: 10.17487/RFC8758.
[5] M. Dworkin, Recommendation for Block Cipher Modes of Operation: Galois/Counter Mode (GCM) and GMAC, NIST Special Publication 800-38D. Gaithersburg, MD, USA: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2007, doi: 10.6028/NIST.SP.800-38D.
[6] Y. Nir and A. Langley, “ChaCha20 and Poly1305 for IETF Protocols,” RFC 8439, Jun. 2018, doi: 10.17487/RFC8439.
[7] M. S. Turan et al., Recommendation for the Entropy Sources Used for Random Bit Generation, NIST Special Publication 800-90B. Gaithersburg, MD, USA: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2018, doi: 10.6028/NIST.SP.800-90B.
[8] A. Rukhin et al., A Statistical Test Suite for Random and Pseudorandom Number Generators for Cryptographic Applications, NIST Special Publication 800-22 Rev. 1a. Gaithersburg, MD, USA: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2010, doi: 10.6028/NIST.SP.800-22r1a.
[9] E. Barker and A. Roginsky, Transitioning the Use of Cryptographic Algorithms and Key Lengths, NIST Special Publication 800-131A Rev. 2. Gaithersburg, MD, USA: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2019, doi: 10.6028/NIST.SP.800-131Ar2.
[10] E. H. A. Mendrofa, E. Y. P. Manurung, B. Y. Sihombing, and R. W. Sembiring, “Collaborative encryption algorithm between Vigenère cipher, rotation of matrix, and one-time pad,” in Proc. Int. Conf. Computer, Environment, Social Science, Health Science, Agriculture and Technology (ICEST), 2017.
[11] D. McGrew, “An Interface and Algorithms for Authenticated Encryption,” RFC 5116, Jan. 2008, doi: 10.17487/RFC5116.
[12] H. Krawczyk and P. Eronen, “HMAC-based Extract-and-Expand Key Derivation Function (HKDF),” RFC 5869, May 2010, doi: 10.17487/RFC5869.
[13] E. Barker, L. Chen, A. Roginsky, A. Vassilev, and R. Davis, Recommendation for Pair-Wise Key-Establishment Schemes Using Integer Factorization Cryptography, NIST Special Publication 800-56B Rev. 2. Gaithersburg, MD, USA: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2019, doi: 10.6028/NIST.SP.800-56Br2.
