Scientific Reports (Jan 2025)

Optimizing cryptographic protocols against side channel attacks using WGAN-GP and genetic algorithms

  • Purushottam Singh,
  • Prashant Pranav,
  • Sandip Dutta

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86118-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 24

Abstract

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Abstract This research introduces a novel hybrid cryptographic framework that combines traditional cryptographic protocols with advanced methodologies, specifically Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Networks with Gradient Penalty (WGAN-GP) and Genetic Algorithms (GA). We evaluated several cryptographic protocols, including AES-ECB, AES-GCM, ChaCha20, RSA, and ECC, against critical metrics such as security level, efficiency, side-channel resistance, and cryptanalysis resistance. Our findings demonstrate that this integrated approach significantly enhances both security and efficiency across all evaluated protocols. Notably, the AES-GCM algorithm exhibited superior performance, achieving minimal computation time and robust side-channel resistance. This study underscores the potential of leveraging machine learning and evolutionary algorithms to advance cryptographic protocol security and efficiency, laying a robust foundation for future advancements in cybersecurity.

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