Optimizing AES-256 with Keccak Permutations: Achieving High Security and Performance with Reduced Rounds

This study introduces an innovative approach to enhancing AES-256 encryption by integrating the Keccak permutation into its key generation process, aiming to improve both security and performance while reducing the number of encryption rounds. Keccak-enhanced AES-256, evaluated with 10 and 14 rounds, was compared against the standard AES-256 (14 rounds) across key metrics such as entropy, avalanche effect, differential probability, encryption time, power consumption, and side-channel attack resistance. The 10-round Keccak-enhanced variant achieved a 25% reduction in encryption time and a 28% decrease in power consumption compared to standard AES-256, while maintaining a high avalanche effect (~95%) and significantly lower differential probability (10^-9), indicating enhanced security. The results suggest that Keccak-enhanced AES-256 provides a more efficient and secure alternative to traditional AES-256, with significant implications for security-critical applications in finance, healthcare, and government sectors. By setting a new standard for encryption efficiency, this approach paves the way for future research into optimizing cryptographic algorithms for various real-world scenarios.