Linear solutions for cryptographic nonlinear sequence generators

Abstract: This letter shows that linear Cellular Automata based on rules 90/150 generate all the solutions of linear difference equations with binary constant coefficients. Some of these solutions are pseudo-random noise sequences with application in cryptography: the sequences generated by the class of shrinking generators. Consequently, this contribution show that shrinking generators do not provide enough guarantees to be used for encryption purposes. Furthermore, the linearization is achieved through a simple algorithm about which a full description is provided.