Abstract. Nonlinear feedback shift registers (NLFSRs) are used to construct pseudorandom generators for stream ciphers. Their theory is not so complete as that of linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs). In general, it is not known how to construct all NLFSRs with maximum period. The direct method is to search for such registers with suitable properties. Advanced technology of parallel computing has been applied both in software and hardware to search for maximum period NLFSRs having a fairly simple algebraic normal form.

Pseudorandom generators, which produce keystreams for stream ciphers by the exclusiveor sum of outputs of alternately clocked linear feedback shift registers, are vulnerable to cryptanalysis.In order to increase their resistance to attacks, we introduce a non-linear scrambler at the output of these generators. Non-linear feedback shift register plays the role of the scrambler. In addition, we propose Modified Alternating Step Generator with a non-linear scrambler (MASG 1S ) built with non-linear feedback shift register and regularly or irregularly clocked linear feedback shift registers with non-linear filtering functions.