SHA-3 Competition

NIST has finally issued notice of a competition for a secure hash replacement to be designated SHA-3. This is similar to the process that NIST followed for AES. This is required because SHA-1 has some serious warts.

NIST has opened a public competition to develop a new cryptographic hash algorithm, which converts a variable length message into a short “message digest” that can be used for digital signatures, message authentication and other applications. The competition is NIST’s response to recent advances in the cryptanalysis of hash functions. The new hash algorithm will be called “SHA-3” and will augment the hash algorithms currently specified in FIPS 180-2, Secure Hash Standard.

So, cryptographers, this is your call to action. Responses are due by October 31, 2008.