Stream/block ciphers, difference equations and algebraic attacks

In this paper we model a class of stream and block ciphers as systems of (ordinary) explicit difference equations over a finite field. We call this class "difference ciphers" and we show that ciphers of application interest, as for example systems of LFSRs with a combiner, Trivium and Keeloq, belong to the class. By using Difference Algebra, that is, the formal theory of difference equations, w…