Overview:
This pull request introduces a suite of functions centered around the double_sha256 cryptographic method, enhancing our python-bitcoin-utils library's capabilities to simulate and analyze security scenarios involving SHA-256. The update includes functionalities to measure the hash rate of double SHA-256 operations on the user's machine and estimate the theoretical time required to execute a preimage attack using brute force methods.
Key Additions:
Double SHA-256 Implementation: A robust method to apply SHA-256 hashing twice to any input data. This method reflects the typical use case in Bitcoin transaction processing and block mining, ensuring our tools remain relevant for blockchain developers and researchers.
Hash Rate Measurement: Functionality to measure how many double SHA-256 operations can be performed per second by the user's computer. This feature is vital for performance benchmarking and hardware capability assessments.
Preimage Attack Time Estimation: Provides an estimation of the time it would take to find a preimage by brute force attack using the measured hash rate. The results highlight the security strength of SHA-256 by comparing it to the age of the universe, underlining the impracticality of such attacks.
Purpose & Impact:
The addition of these utilities aims to enhance our library’s offerings in security tools, catering especially to users interested in the cryptographic underpinnings of Bitcoin and similar blockchain technologies. By providing these tools, we facilitate deeper insights into the practical security measures and resilience of blockchain technology against attacks.
Users can utilize these tools to:
Assess their machine's hashing capabilities.
Understand the enormity of computational power required to compromise SHA-256, fostering a greater appreciation and understanding of why it is used so extensively in securing blockchain transactions.
Overview: This pull request introduces a suite of functions centered around the double_sha256 cryptographic method, enhancing our python-bitcoin-utils library's capabilities to simulate and analyze security scenarios involving SHA-256. The update includes functionalities to measure the hash rate of double SHA-256 operations on the user's machine and estimate the theoretical time required to execute a preimage attack using brute force methods.
Key Additions: Double SHA-256 Implementation: A robust method to apply SHA-256 hashing twice to any input data. This method reflects the typical use case in Bitcoin transaction processing and block mining, ensuring our tools remain relevant for blockchain developers and researchers. Hash Rate Measurement: Functionality to measure how many double SHA-256 operations can be performed per second by the user's computer. This feature is vital for performance benchmarking and hardware capability assessments. Preimage Attack Time Estimation: Provides an estimation of the time it would take to find a preimage by brute force attack using the measured hash rate. The results highlight the security strength of SHA-256 by comparing it to the age of the universe, underlining the impracticality of such attacks.
Purpose & Impact: The addition of these utilities aims to enhance our library’s offerings in security tools, catering especially to users interested in the cryptographic underpinnings of Bitcoin and similar blockchain technologies. By providing these tools, we facilitate deeper insights into the practical security measures and resilience of blockchain technology against attacks.
Users can utilize these tools to: Assess their machine's hashing capabilities. Understand the enormity of computational power required to compromise SHA-256, fostering a greater appreciation and understanding of why it is used so extensively in securing blockchain transactions.