To encrypt means to convert data from a readable format to an incomprehensible format. The data encryption software relies on an encryption algorithm, which develops encryption that is so complex it can only be unbroken by computing power.

There are several encryption algorithms, Twofish being one of the best. But before we dive into Twofish, let’s quickly go over how encryption algorithms work, along with some examples.

How Do Encryption Algorithms Like Twofish Work?

Encrypting something involves converting readable material (sentences, numbers, etc.) into an incomprehensible text called cipher-text.

Deciphering the message is done using cryptographic keys, which are mathematical values ​​the sender and receiver agree upon—the more complex and lengthier the key, the more secure the encryption. There are two ways to encrypt and decrypt information, symmetric and asymmetric. Both provide advantages and disadvantages, but generally speaking, asymmetric ones are more secure.

Examples of Encryption Algorithms

Generally, new algorithms are developed when older ones become unsafe. Some of the most famous algorithms used today include the following:

AES Encryption: Advanced Encryption Standard is one of the most common application algorithms worldwide, used in services like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and WinZip. The US military, the NSA, and many cloud encryption software also use AES. RSA Encryption: Short for Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman, the last names of the mathematicians who invented this algorithm. RSA is an asymmetric algorithm used mostly for secure data transmission. Serpent Encryption: This algorithm has higher security encryption standards than AES, yet it is slower and harder to implement. MARS Encryption: This algorithm is IBM designed and has a 128-bit block size, and is not very common. Unlike most mentioned algorithms, MARS uses a heterogeneous structure. Twofish Encryption: This algorithm is used for hardware and software and is considered one of the safest encryptions. Twofish isn’t proprietary, so it is freely available to anyone.

What Makes Twofish So Effective as a Cipher?

Twofish is a 128-bit block cipher with a key length of up to 256 bits. This 128-bit key makes Twofish virtually immune to brute force attacks (which involve attempting to log into someone’s account by guessing the username and password). With Twofish, it won’t matter because it would take decades to crack a message, regardless of a hacker’s computing power.

Also, as an extra layer of security Twofish encryptions use a deterministic algorithm and symmetric keys to encrypt data.

Another critical characteristic of Twofish is its flexibility. While performance was always important, Twofish was also designed to allow for performance tradeoffs based on the importance of the encryption and implementation of the network in terms of speed, memory, RAM, hardware gate count, etc. This tradeoff allows Twofish to be flexible so it can be implemented in various applications.

Who Invented the Twofish Algorithm?

Twofish came out in 1998 and hasn’t been broken since. The cipher was developed by Bruce Schneier, from Counterpane Labs, with the help of the Twofish team.

What Is the Difference Between Twofish and Blowfish?

Twofish is the successor to the Blowfish encryption algorithm, which Schneier invented in 1993. Blowfish is a symmetric-key block cipher with a critical length of up to 64 bits, just like its successor. Blowfish and Twofish are the equivalents of how AES replaced DES. And believe it or not, Blowfish has more widespread usage than Twofish because it has been available for longer.

Who Uses Twofish Encryption?

Despite its success, only a few applications use Twofish compared to AES. However, the two most popular programs that rely on the Twofish encryption algorithm are PGP and TrueCrypt—the former being familiar among dark web users.

PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), the standard email encryption, and GPG, its signing service, use Twofish. And lastly, TrueCrypt, one of the most popular and free file encryption programs for Windows and Mac, also relies on the Twofish encryption algorithm.

Twofish is among the best encryption solutions, but it is not a popular encryption algorithm worldwide. And even though most cryptographers consider Twofish more secure than AES, AES remains the most popular encryption algorithm in the world. Naturally, there is still some debate about which one is better, but the simple reason is that Twofish is not as widely used due to its speed and the fact that it can be flexible with its encryption (meaning lack of standardization).

According to a study by the IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), the Twofish algorithm was considered fast when encrypting and decrypting texts on a standard RAM. But, the AES was considered way faster if it had increased RAM. Of note, both were equal in speed when conducting image encryption, and both use symmetric keys.

Since AES had the potential to be faster, the industry decided that it was more commercial. The last thing a company wants is to install an encryption algorithm that would slow down a computer or phone. This is why even though Serpent and MARS have better security, AES is still the most popular standard.

Twofish is therefore used for those who genuinely care about security and not so much speed and user-friendliness. Since Twofish is also in the public domain, you can potentially develop your own algorithm and base it on Twofish to make it better and faster.

So Is Twofish Unbreakable?

Even with Twofish encryptions, you should not lower your guard. Like all encryption algorithms, Twofish is not immune to existing and newer cyber threats.

Even though Schneier and his team believe the algorithm is intact, Twofish has been attacked multiple times. Even though brute force attacks are almost impossible to be achieved on Twofish encryption, side-channel attacks are still likely.

An Algorithm for Every Need

Although some encryption algorithms are better than others, as we discussed, all play a crucial role in security and encryption. While some encryption algorithms may be older and less secure, the industry may prefer them based on how easy they can be implemented. Weaker encryption algorithms might also be selected if they aren’t needed to encrypt anything critical.

Twofish is ideal if you want to take security to the next level and encrypt highly confidential information. It’s also desirable if you like to base your own encryption algorithm on an existing one or simply if you wish to use something less mainstream to encrypt your data.