Ciphering methods

The Data Encryption Standard (DES) algorithm defines operations on 8-byte data strings.

The DES algorithm is used in many different processes within CCA:
  • Encrypting and decrypting general data
  • Triple-encrypting and triple-decrypting PIN blocks
  • Triple-encrypting and triple-decrypting CCA DES keys
  • Triple-encrypting and triple-decrypting RSA private keys with several processes
  • Deriving keys, hashing data, generating CVV values, and so forth

The Encipher and Decipher verbs describe how you can request encryption or decryption of application data. See the following topic: General data-encryption processes for a description of the two standardized processes you can use.

In CCA, PIN blocks are encrypted with double-length keys. The PIN block is encrypted with the left-half key, for which the result is decrypted with the right-half key and this result is encrypted with the left-half key.

See also Triple-DES ciphering algorithms for more information.