Time-Optimized Software Implementation of the Present Cipher on Python Language

This paper shows the development of the PRESENT cipher using Python 3 language, this cipher uses 64-bit data and 80-bits or 128-bit keys. The main objetive is optimizing the execution time of the algorithm in order to be used along with different kinds of embedded systems such as microcontrollers, SoCs (System on Chip) or even programable logic devices like FPGA (Field Programable Gate Array) for IoT (Internet of Things) and/or smart sensor networks applications. First, some bit-wise operations which are commonly used in cryptographic algorithms were implemented and tested for defining which must be used in the final implementation. After, three different approaches of implementing the complete PRESENT cipher on Python were proposed, the third version reached a time reduction from 25.3% to 45.3% compared with the other two versions. These time reduction percents depend on the kind of operation (cipher or decipher) and the width of the key (80-bit or 128-bit). Finally, the algorithm implementation obtained shown that it is able to be used on the applications previously mentioned as well as it can be used on embeded systems which can run a Python interpreter.