Genetic Symmetric Key Generation for IDEA

Cryptography aims at transmitting secure data over an unsecure network in coded version so that only the intended recipient can analyze it. Communication through messages, emails, or various other modes requires high security so as to maintain the confidentiality of the content. This paper deals with IDEA's shortcoming of generating weak keys. If these keys are used for encryption and decryption may result in the easy prediction of ciphertext corresponding to the plaintext. For applying genetic approach, which is well-known optimization technique, to the weak keys, we obtained a definite solution to convert the weaker keys to stronger ones. The chances of generating a weak key in IDEA are very rare, but if it is produced, it could lead to a huge risk of attacks being made on the key, as well as on the information. Hence, measures have been taken to safeguard the key and to ensure the privacy of information.