The Effects of Multiple Algorithms in the Advanced Encryption Standard

Each of the current five candidate algorithms for AES satisfies a different balance of these constraints; the ‘best’ algorithm depends on circumstances, which are impossible to know beforehand. Furthermore, one of the principal requirements that of security of the algorithm cannot easily be measured; subjective judgements therefore must be made (based, for instance, on notions of ‘safety margin’ or ‘conservative design’) which may prove to be inaccurate or irrelevant in years to come.