Abstract: A column transformation for an encryption application is effected using XOR operations. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an input column of bytes is transformed for the AES algorithm. An output column of transformed bytes is provided by logically combining (e.g, XORing) at least one bit from each byte in the input column. The transformed bytes may be implemented with the MixColumns transformation for the AES algorithm, such that the logical combination discussed above is used in place of the logical combination and multiplication used in the MixColumns transformation. With this approach, the Finite Field multiplication specified in the MixColumns transformation can be avoided and an equivalent transformation can be effected using only a single type of logic combination.