🐅Tiger

NEW

A fast 192-bit cryptographic hash function optimized for 64-bit processors, designed in the mid-1990s.

DESCRIPTION

Tiger is a cryptographic hash function by Ross Anderson and Eli Biham, notable for its performance on 64-bit CPUs. It outputs a 192-bit digest and was used in some file hashing and P2P contexts. Though no practical collisions are widely known, it lacks modern standardization and widespread use today. Modern deployments generally favor standardized options like SHA-2/SHA-3 or newer designs such as BLAKE2/BLAKE3. Tiger remains of historical and academic interest.

ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS

Technion (Eli Biham)

Tiger is a fast cryptographic hash function designed for 64-bit platforms, producing a 192-bit output.

Designer’s summary; paraphrased due to offline generation.

Source

Crypto++

Tiger is a 192-bit hash function included for compatibility, optimized for 64-bit machines.

Notes compatibility status in a crypto library; paraphrased due to offline generation.

Source

RELATED TERMS

RIPEMD-160 Cryptographic Hash Function Collision Resistance Checksum BLAKE Skein Keccak MD5

COMPETING TERMS

Whirlpool SHA-1

KNOWLEDGE AREAS

Data Security Software Engineering

TARGET AUDIENCE

Security Architect Cybersecurity Engineer Software Developer IT Auditor

EXTERNAL SOURCES

• Wikipedia - Tiger (hash function)
• Technion - Official Tiger algorithm page.
• Crypto++ - Library notes and implementation details.

TOP QUESTIONS

Why was Tiger designed to be fast on 64-bit CPUs?

It exploits wider registers and word operations, increasing throughput compared to contemporary 32-bit oriented hashes.

Category: Performance

Is Tiger standardized?

No. Tiger has no major standardization and limited adoption in modern protocols.

Category: Relevancy

Is Tiger collision-resistant today?

No widely practical collisions are known, but the algorithm lacks the extensive scrutiny of standardized hashes.

Category: Risks

Where was Tiger used historically?

Various file hashing tools and some peer-to-peer networks employed Tiger for efficient hashing.

Category: Background

What should I use instead of Tiger?

Prefer SHA-256/512 or SHA-3; BLAKE2/BLAKE3 are also high-performance choices.

Category: Recommendation

How big is Tiger’s digest?

Tiger outputs a 192-bit (24-byte) digest.

Category: Definition

Does Tiger support HMAC?

HMAC can be constructed with any hash, but standardized HMAC-SHA variants are recommended.

Category: BestPractice

What is a misconception about Tiger?

That speed alone ensures suitability; standardization and security review matter equally.

Category: Misunderstanding

Is Tiger suitable for password hashing?

No. Use PBKDF2, scrypt, or Argon2 with salt and appropriate parameters.

Category: Mistakes