2 posts tagged with "defense-in-depth"

What if one lock on your door isn't enough? What if an attacker could pick that single lock and access everything? In the world of encryption, we face a similar challenge: single-layer encryption creates a single point of failure. When that one algorithm is broken—whether by a quantum computer, a newly discovered vulnerability, or a key compromise—your data is exposed.

Cascading ciphers solve this problem by layering multiple encryption algorithms together, like Russian nesting dolls or a castle with moats, walls, and guards. Each layer provides independent protection. Break one, and the others still stand. In this article, we'll explore how cascading ciphers work, why they matter, and when to use them—without getting lost in implementation details.

⚠️ NOTE: This document and related project is not finished. The details in this document are subject to change.

What if you could combine multiple encryption algorithms like layers of an onion, where each layer provides independent protection? What if breaking one encryption layer still left your data protected by two or three more?

In this article, we'll explore how to build a cascading cipher system that chains multiple encryption algorithms together for defense-in-depth security. We'll walk through a browser-based JavaScript implementation that combines MLS (Message Layer Security), Signal Protocol's Double Ratchet, Diffie-Hellman key exchange, and AES-GCM encryption—all working together to create a robust, multi-layered encryption solution.