What Is DES and 3DES?

DES
The Data Encryption Standard (also known as DES) is a cipher (method of encryption) selected as an official Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) for the U.S in 1976, and was subsequently used internationally as a widespread encryption method. The algorithm was initiall controverssial, with classied design elements, a relatively short key length annd suspicions about a National Security Agency (NSA) backdoor. DES consequently came under intense academic scrutinty and motivated the modern understanding of block ciphers and their cryptanalysis.

DES is now Insecure
Des is now insecure for most applications. This is due to the 56-bit key size being too small. DES keys have been broken in less than 24 hours. There are also some results which demonstrate theoretical weaknesses in the cipher itself, although they have not been demonstarted to work in any way (source wikipedia). For some reason or another 3DES is considered secure (a.k.a. triple DES) but there are still theoretical attack methods.

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