🔐 AES-GCM 256-bit Encryption
The gold standard in symmetric encryption, providing both confidentiality and authenticity for your sensitive data with military-grade security.
What is AES-GCM?
AES-GCM (Advanced Encryption Standard - Galois/Counter Mode) is a state-of-the-art encryption algorithm that combines the security of AES encryption with the efficiency and authenticity of Galois Counter Mode.
Key Features
- • 256-bit key length for maximum security
- • Authenticated encryption (AEAD)
- • Built-in tamper detection
- • Parallel processing capability
- • NSA Suite B approved
Why 256-bit Keys?
AES-256 provides an enormous key space that makes brute-force attacks computationally infeasible:
Even with all computers on Earth working together, it would take longer than the age of the universe to crack.
How SafeMonk Uses AES-GCM
Client-Side Encryption
All encryption happens in your browser using the Web Crypto API before any data leaves your device.
- ✓ Secret never exists in plaintext on our servers
- ✓ Encryption keys never transmitted to SafeMonk
- ✓ Zero-knowledge architecture maintained
Authenticated Encryption
AES-GCM doesn't just encrypt - it also authenticates, ensuring data hasn't been tampered with.
- ✓ Built-in integrity verification
- ✓ Protection against tampering attacks
- ✓ Authentication tag prevents forgery
Unique Initialization Vectors
Each secret gets a cryptographically random IV, ensuring identical secrets produce different ciphertext.
- ✓ 96-bit random IV per encryption
- ✓ No patterns in encrypted output
- ✓ Semantic security guaranteed
Technical Implementation
Encryption Process
- 1Generate 256-bit encryption key
- 2Create random 96-bit IV
- 3Encrypt data with AES-GCM
- 4Generate authentication tag
- 5Combine IV + ciphertext + tag
Decryption Process
- 1Extract IV and authentication tag
- 2Verify authentication tag
- 3Fail if tampered with
- 4Decrypt ciphertext if authentic
- 5Return plaintext to user
Security Benefits
Confidentiality
Only those with the correct key can decrypt and read your secrets.
Authenticity
Built-in authentication ensures data hasn't been modified or corrupted.
Performance
Hardware-accelerated encryption provides fast performance without security compromise.
Standards & Compliance
Industry Standards
- ✓FIPS 197 ApprovedFederal Information Processing Standard
- ✓NSA Suite BApproved for classified information
- ✓ISO/IEC 18033-3International encryption standard
Used By
- • U.S. Government agencies
- • Banking and financial institutions
- • Healthcare organizations (HIPAA)
- • Enterprise cloud providers
- • Military and defense contractors
- • Privacy-focused applications
Related Technologies
AES-GCM works alongside other security technologies in SafeMonk's comprehensive protection system.