Triple DES is another mode of DES operation. It takes three 64-bit keys, for an overall key length of 192 bits. In Stealth, you merely type within the entire 192-bit (24 character) key instead of entering each of the three keys individually. The Triple DES DLL then breaks the user-provided key into three subkeys, padding the keys if necessary in order that they are each 64 bits long. The procedure for encryption is strictly an equivalent as regular DES, but it's repeated 3 times , hence the name Triple DES. the info is encrypted with the primary key, decrypted with the second key, and eventually encrypted again with the third key. Triple DES runs 3 times slower than DES, but is far safer if used properly. The procedure for decrypting something is that the same because the procedure for encryption, except it's executed in reverse. Like DES, data is encrypted and decrypted in 64-bit chunks. Although the input key for DES is 64 bits long, the particular key employed by DES is merely 56 bits long . the smallest amount significant (right-most) bit in each byte may be a parity , and will be set in order that there are always an odd number of 1s in every byte. These parity bits are ignored, so only the seven most vital bits of every byte are used, leading to a key length of 56 bits. this suggests that the effective key strength for Triple DES is really 168 bits because each of the three keys contains 8 parity bits that aren't used during the encryption process. Triple DES Modes Triple ECB (Electronic Code Book) * This variant of Triple DES works precisely the same way because the ECB mode of DES. * this is often the foremost commonly used mode of operation. Triple CBC (Cipher Block Chaining) * This method is extremely almost like the quality DES CBC mode. * like Triple ECB, the effective key length is 168 bits and keys are utilized in an equivalent manner, as described above, but the chaining features of CBC mode also are employed. * the primary 64-bit key acts because the Initialization Vector to DES. * Triple ECB is then executed for one 64-bit block of plaintext. * The resulting ciphertext is then XORed with subsequent plaintext block to be encrypted, and therefore the procedure is repeated. * This method adds an additional layer of security to Triple DES and is therefore safer than Triple ECB, although it's not used as widely as Triple ECB.