This paper proposes a novel one-way hash function that can serve as a tool in achieving authenticity and data integrity. The one-way hash function can be viewed as a representative of a family of fast dedicated one-way hash functions whose construction is based on linear cellular automata over GF(a). The design and analysis of security of the function is accomplished by the use of very recently published results on cellular automata and their applications in cryptography. The analysis indicates that the one-way hash function is secure against all known attacks. A promising property of the proposed one-way hash function is that it is especially suitable for compact and fast implementation.

A novel family of keystream generators is proposed employing a linear cellular automata over GF (q) with time-varying transition rule. The analysis indicates that the generator, which is the general member of the family, reaches standard minimal security conditions (large period and good statistical properties) and that it is secure against all known attacks. An important feature of the proposed generators is that they are compact and suitable for high speed applications.