Enhancing DES Security: Integrating Chaos Theory with Lorenz Attractor-Based S-Box Modifications

—The Data Encryption Standard (DES) has long been a foundational algorithm in cryptography; however, its security vulnerabilities have become increasingly evident with the advancement of computational capabilities. This study proposes a novel approach to enhancing DES security by integrating chaos theory with Lorenz attractor-based modifications of the S-boxes used in DES. The method leverages chaotic dynamical systems to generate S-boxes with increased non-linearity and higher cryptographic strength. By applying the Lorenz attractor, the study achieved superior randomness and unpredictability in the S-box design, which is crucial for resisting various cryptanalytic attacks, such as differential and linear cryptanalysis. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed chaotic S-boxes significantly outperform traditional S-boxes regarding cryptographic properties, substantially improving resistance against known vulnerabilities. The study simulation was done using Python with ten (10) sets of data and ten (10) sets of keys used for the consistency of the results. Based on the result of the study, in terms of the degree of diffusion, the standard DES got 52%, while the modified DES obtained 53%, with an increase of 1%. Regarding the degree of confusion, the modified DES obtained 101% while the standard DES only got 100%, which increased by 1%. Is evident that, implementing this enhanced S-box structure within the DES algorithm illustrates its practical viability and integration capability with existing cryptographic frameworks. The results indicate that enhancing DES security through chaotic Lorenz attractor-based S-box modifications can effectively fortify the algorithm against contemporary attacks, rendering it a more robust option for secure communications in a landscape increasingly threatened by cyber risks. This integration signifies a promising direction for future research in cryptographic algorithm enhancement, paving the way for more resilient encryption techniques.