New SHA-3 hashing IP from Barco Silex helps customers implement future-proof security

Louvain‐la‐Neuve, Belgium ‐‐ May 24, 2017 ‐‐ Barco Silex, leading provider of IP cores for embedded security, has added the new SHA-3 hashing functions to its extensive offering of IP blocks. Hashing functions are used to check the integrity of messages, transactions and data in, e.g., e-commerce, financial applications or data archiving. SHA-3 hashing is part of the NIST-endorsed FIPS 202 standard and serves as a future-proof backup for the widely-used SHA-2 algorithms.

Hashing algorithms transform digital data such as messages, transactions or software packages into a unique, short "message digest". Thereafter, even the smallest change in the original data will cause a mismatch with the digest. That way, the digest can be used to verify the integrity of the data and detect any accidental or intentional changes. Such hashed digests find a broad application in electronic communication and storage where they are used to help secure, e.g., digital signing, software attestation, data archival or communication.

SHA-3 hashing was released as part of FIPS 202, a new standard for information processing by the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA). It specifies a family of functions based on Keccak, an innovative algorithm that combines excellent performance and resistance against attacks. SHA-3 is the follow-up of SHA-2, which remains NIST-approved and secure. Barco Silex’ security guru Sébastien Rabou says “SHA-3 hashing is based on a very different design than SHA-2. That makes it an excellent backup for SHA-2 if it should ever get compromised. So by implementing and offering the SHA-3 algorithms as an IP core, we want to assure that our customers can build products with a security that is really future-proof.”

The new BA418 IP core including SHA-3 is available for ASIC and FPGA devices. It comes with convenient software drivers to simplify ASIC or FPGA integration.

Product page: SHA-3 IP core

About Barco Silex

Barco Silex (Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium) is a world leader in security IP cores and platforms, encryption and video processing, as well as in electronic design services (ASIC, FPGA, DSP, Board). Thanks to its continued stream of innovations, Barco Silex provides state-of-the-art security solutions, with security platforms and encryption cores that deliver unrivaled speed and performance in a very compact footprint. Barco Silex is a subsidiary of Barco (NYSE Euronext Brussels: BAR), the global leader in networked visualization products for the entertainment, enterprise and healthcare markets. For more information about Barco Silex: www.barco-silex.com