Final answer:
The AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is one of the most popular symmetric algorithms of recent years.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the most popular symmetric algorithms of recent years is the AES or Advanced Encryption Standard. It is widely used for securing sensitive data in various applications such as online banking, file encryption, and network communication.
AES is a symmetric encryption algorithm that uses a fixed key size of 128, 192, or 256 bits. It operates on blocks of data and applies a series of mathematical transformations, including substitution, permutation, and XOR operations.
Compared to older symmetric algorithms like DES (Data Encryption Standard), AES offers improved security and efficiency. It has become a standard encryption algorithm adopted by many organizations and government agencies worldwide.