Mix network implementation using ECIES encryption and XOR shuffling

Mix networks play a vital role in enhancing security and privacy within the communication channel. Mix networks are anonymous communication channels that provide a practical solution to the traffic analysis problem. This manuscript presents an algorithm for a mix network consisting of five nodes. The algorithm employs the Elliptic Curve Integrated Encryption Scheme (ECIES) algorithm for both encryption and decryption processes while utilizing XOR shuffling to permute the messages. The algorithm effectively manages the data flow, encompassing encryption, decryption, and shuffling operations, while also calculating the load factors for each node. By conducting MATLAB simulations, we assess the flow of data within the mix network, considering the encryption, decryption, and XOR shuffling operations at each node. The integration of ECIES encryption and XOR shuffling within the algorithm exemplifies its effectiveness in ensuring secure and anonymous communication over untrusted networks. This research conducted a comparative analysis of load factor percentages across various key sizes, revealing nuanced efficiency differences among nodes. One of the outcomes of the research was that we were able to identify the optimal key among the five different keys supported by the ECIES algorithm. For all system tests, the 224 bits key demonstrated optimal security with reasonable performance. Our results show that the ECIES 224 bits key works well for building a scalable and efficient Mix Network. The research endeavour contributes significantly to the advancement of secure communication protocols, providing a fundamental framework for the implementation and analysis of mix networks.