diff --git a/pkg/cryptography/aes.go b/pkg/cryptography/aes.go
index 8c8b8e8..baec748 100644
--- a/pkg/cryptography/aes.go
+++ b/pkg/cryptography/aes.go
@@ -9,54 +9,24 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	// AES key sizes in bytes
-	AES128KeySize = 16 // 128 bits
-	AES192KeySize = 24 // 192 bits
+	// AES256KeySize is the size of an AES-256 key in bytes.
 	AES256KeySize = 32 // 256 bits
-
-	// Default to AES-256
-	DefaultKeySize = AES256KeySize
 )
 
-// GenerateAESKey generates a random AES key of the specified size
-func GenerateAESKey(keySize int) ([]byte, error) {
-	if keySize != AES128KeySize && keySize != AES192KeySize && keySize != AES256KeySize {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid key size: must be 16, 24, or 32 bytes")
-	}
-
-	key := make([]byte, keySize)
+// GenerateAES256Key generates a random AES-256 key.
+func GenerateAES256Key() ([]byte, error) {
+	key := make([]byte, AES256KeySize)
 	if _, err := io.ReadFull(rand.Reader, key); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return key, nil
 }
 
-// GenerateAES256Key generates a random AES-256 key (default)
-func GenerateAES256Key() ([]byte, error) {
-	return GenerateAESKey(AES256KeySize)
-}
-
-// EncryptAES256CBC encrypts data using AES-256 in CBC mode
+// EncryptAES256CBC encrypts data using AES-256 in CBC mode.
+// The IV is prepended to the ciphertext.
 func EncryptAES256CBC(key, plaintext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	if len(key) != AES256KeySize {
-		return nil, errors.New("key must be 32 bytes for AES-256")
-	}
-	return EncryptAESCBC(key, plaintext)
-}
-
-// DecryptAES256CBC decrypts data using AES-256 in CBC mode
-func DecryptAES256CBC(key, ciphertext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	if len(key) != AES256KeySize {
-		return nil, errors.New("key must be 32 bytes for AES-256")
-	}
-	return DecryptAESCBC(key, ciphertext)
-}
-
-// EncryptAESCBC encrypts data using AES in CBC mode (accepts any valid AES key size)
-func EncryptAESCBC(key, plaintext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	// Validate key size
-	if len(key) != AES128KeySize && len(key) != AES192KeySize && len(key) != AES256KeySize {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid key size: must be 16, 24, or 32 bytes")
+		return nil, errors.New("invalid key size: must be 32 bytes for AES-256")
 	}
 
 	block, err := aes.NewCipher(key)
@@ -64,13 +34,13 @@ func EncryptAESCBC(key, plaintext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// Generate IV
+	// Generate a random IV.
 	iv := make([]byte, aes.BlockSize)
 	if _, err := io.ReadFull(rand.Reader, iv); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// Add PKCS7 padding
+	// Add PKCS7 padding.
 	padding := aes.BlockSize - len(plaintext)%aes.BlockSize
 	padtext := make([]byte, len(plaintext)+padding)
 	copy(padtext, plaintext)
@@ -78,19 +48,20 @@ func EncryptAESCBC(key, plaintext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 		padtext[i] = byte(padding)
 	}
 
-	// Encrypt
-	mode := cipher.NewCBCEncrypter(block, iv) // #nosec G407
+	// Encrypt the data.
+	mode := cipher.NewCBCEncrypter(block, iv)
 	ciphertext := make([]byte, len(padtext))
 	mode.CryptBlocks(ciphertext, padtext)
 
+	// Prepend the IV to the ciphertext.
 	return append(iv, ciphertext...), nil
 }
 
-// DecryptAESCBC decrypts data using AES in CBC mode (accepts any valid AES key size)
-func DecryptAESCBC(key, ciphertext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	// Validate key size
-	if len(key) != AES128KeySize && len(key) != AES192KeySize && len(key) != AES256KeySize {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid key size: must be 16, 24, or 32 bytes")
+// DecryptAES256CBC decrypts data using AES-256 in CBC mode.
+// It assumes the IV is prepended to the ciphertext.
+func DecryptAES256CBC(key, ciphertext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	if len(key) != AES256KeySize {
+		return nil, errors.New("invalid key size: must be 32 bytes for AES-256")
 	}
 
 	block, err := aes.NewCipher(key)
@@ -99,34 +70,39 @@ func DecryptAESCBC(key, ciphertext []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	}
 
 	if len(ciphertext) < aes.BlockSize {
-		return nil, errors.New("ciphertext too short")
+		return nil, errors.New("ciphertext is too short")
 	}
 
+	// Extract the IV from the beginning of the ciphertext.
 	iv := ciphertext[:aes.BlockSize]
 	ciphertext = ciphertext[aes.BlockSize:]
 
 	if len(ciphertext)%aes.BlockSize != 0 {
-		return nil, errors.New("ciphertext is not a multiple of block size")
+		return nil, errors.New("ciphertext is not a multiple of the block size")
 	}
 
+	// Decrypt the data.
 	mode := cipher.NewCBCDecrypter(block, iv)
 	plaintext := make([]byte, len(ciphertext))
 	mode.CryptBlocks(plaintext, ciphertext)
 
-	// Remove PKCS7 padding
+	// Remove PKCS7 padding.
 	if len(plaintext) == 0 {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid padding: empty plaintext")
+		return nil, errors.New("invalid padding: plaintext is empty")
 	}
 
 	padding := int(plaintext[len(plaintext)-1])
-	if padding == 0 || padding > aes.BlockSize || padding > len(plaintext) {
-		return nil, errors.New("invalid PKCS7 padding")
+	if padding > aes.BlockSize || padding == 0 {
+		return nil, errors.New("invalid padding size")
+	}
+	if len(plaintext) < padding {
+		return nil, errors.New("invalid padding: padding size is larger than plaintext")
 	}
 
-	// Verify all padding bytes are correct
+	// Verify the padding bytes.
 	for i := len(plaintext) - padding; i < len(plaintext); i++ {
 		if plaintext[i] != byte(padding) {
-			return nil, errors.New("invalid PKCS7 padding")
+			return nil, errors.New("invalid padding bytes")
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/cryptography/aes_test.go b/pkg/cryptography/aes_test.go
index ea472ae..789b064 100644
--- a/pkg/cryptography/aes_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cryptography/aes_test.go
@@ -3,44 +3,20 @@ package cryptography
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"crypto/aes"
+	"crypto/cipher"
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 )
 
-func TestGenerateAESKeys(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Run("GenerateAES256Key", func(t *testing.T) {
-		key, err := GenerateAES256Key()
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("GenerateAES256Key failed: %v", err)
-		}
-		if len(key) != AES256KeySize {
-			t.Errorf("Expected key size %d, got %d", AES256KeySize, len(key))
-		}
-	})
-
-	t.Run("GenerateAESKey_AllSizes", func(t *testing.T) {
-		sizes := []int{AES128KeySize, AES192KeySize, AES256KeySize}
-		for _, size := range sizes {
-			key, err := GenerateAESKey(size)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("GenerateAESKey(%d) failed: %v", size, err)
-			}
-			if len(key) != size {
-				t.Errorf("Expected key size %d, got %d", size, len(key))
-			}
-		}
-	})
-
-	t.Run("GenerateAESKey_InvalidSize", func(t *testing.T) {
-		invalidSizes := []int{8, 15, 17, 23, 25, 31, 33, 64}
-		for _, size := range invalidSizes {
-			_, err := GenerateAESKey(size)
-			if err == nil {
-				t.Errorf("GenerateAESKey(%d) should have failed but didn't", size)
-			}
-		}
-	})
+func TestGenerateAES256Key(t *testing.T) {
+	key, err := GenerateAES256Key()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("GenerateAES256Key failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(key) != AES256KeySize {
+		t.Errorf("Expected key size %d, got %d", AES256KeySize, len(key))
+	}
 }
 
 func TestAES256CBCEncryptionDecryption(t *testing.T) {
@@ -110,48 +86,8 @@ func TestAES256CBC_InvalidKeySize(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestAESCBCEncryptionDecryption(t *testing.T) {
-	keySizes := []int{AES128KeySize, AES192KeySize, AES256KeySize}
 
-	for _, keySize := range keySizes {
-		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("AES_%d", keySize*8), func(t *testing.T) {
-			key, err := GenerateAESKey(keySize)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("Failed to generate AES-%d key: %v", keySize*8, err)
-			}
-
-			testCases := []struct {
-				name      string
-				plaintext []byte
-			}{
-				{"ShortMessage", []byte("Hello")},
-				{"BlockSizeMessage", []byte("This is 16 bytes")},
-				{"LongMessage", []byte("This is a longer message that spans multiple AES blocks.")},
-				{"EmptyMessage", []byte("")},
-			}
-
-			for _, tc := range testCases {
-				t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-					ciphertext, err := EncryptAESCBC(key, tc.plaintext)
-					if err != nil {
-						t.Fatalf("EncryptAESCBC failed: %v", err)
-					}
-
-					decrypted, err := DecryptAESCBC(key, ciphertext)
-					if err != nil {
-						t.Fatalf("DecryptAESCBC failed: %v", err)
-					}
-
-					if !bytes.Equal(tc.plaintext, decrypted) {
-						t.Errorf("Decrypted text does not match original plaintext. Got %q, want %q", decrypted, tc.plaintext)
-					}
-				})
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDecryptAESCBCErrorCases(t *testing.T) {
+func TestDecryptAES256CBCErrorCases(t *testing.T) {
 	key, err := GenerateAES256Key()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to generate key: %v", err)
@@ -159,20 +95,9 @@ func TestDecryptAESCBCErrorCases(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("CiphertextTooShort", func(t *testing.T) {
 		shortCiphertext := []byte{0x01, 0x02, 0x03} // Less than AES block size
-		_, err := DecryptAESCBC(key, shortCiphertext)
+		_, err := DecryptAES256CBC(key, shortCiphertext)
 		if err == nil {
-			t.Error("DecryptAESCBC should have failed for ciphertext shorter than block size")
-		}
-	})
-
-	t.Run("InvalidKeySize", func(t *testing.T) {
-		invalidKey := make([]byte, 17)      // Invalid key size
-		validCiphertext := make([]byte, 32) // IV + one block
-		rand.Read(validCiphertext)
-
-		_, err := DecryptAESCBC(invalidKey, validCiphertext)
-		if err == nil {
-			t.Error("DecryptAESCBC should have failed for invalid key size")
+			t.Error("DecryptAES256CBC should have failed for ciphertext shorter than block size")
 		}
 	})
 
@@ -180,16 +105,16 @@ func TestDecryptAESCBCErrorCases(t *testing.T) {
 		iv := make([]byte, aes.BlockSize)
 		rand.Read(iv)
 		invalidCiphertext := append(iv, []byte{0x01, 0x02, 0x03}...) // IV + data not multiple of block size
-		_, err := DecryptAESCBC(key, invalidCiphertext)
+		_, err := DecryptAES256CBC(key, invalidCiphertext)
 		if err == nil {
-			t.Error("DecryptAESCBC should have failed for ciphertext not multiple of block size")
+			t.Error("DecryptAES256CBC should have failed for ciphertext not multiple of block size")
 		}
 	})
 
 	t.Run("InvalidPadding", func(t *testing.T) {
 		// Create a valid ciphertext first
 		plaintext := []byte("valid data")
-		ciphertext, err := EncryptAESCBC(key, plaintext)
+		ciphertext, err := EncryptAES256CBC(key, plaintext)
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("Failed to create test ciphertext: %v", err)
 		}
@@ -199,35 +124,42 @@ func TestDecryptAESCBCErrorCases(t *testing.T) {
 		copy(corruptedCiphertext, ciphertext)
 		corruptedCiphertext[len(corruptedCiphertext)-1] ^= 0xFF
 
-		_, err = DecryptAESCBC(key, corruptedCiphertext)
+		_, err = DecryptAES256CBC(key, corruptedCiphertext)
 		if err == nil {
-			t.Error("DecryptAESCBC should have failed for corrupted padding")
+			t.Error("DecryptAES256CBC should have failed for corrupted padding")
 		}
 	})
 
-	t.Run("EmptyPlaintext", func(t *testing.T) {
-		// Create a ciphertext that would result in empty plaintext
-		invalidCiphertext := make([]byte, aes.BlockSize) // Only IV, no data
-		_, err := DecryptAESCBC(key, invalidCiphertext)
-		if err == nil {
-			t.Error("DecryptAESCBC should have failed for empty ciphertext data")
+	t.Run("EmptyPlaintextAfterDecryption", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// This creates a ciphertext that decrypts to just padding
+		key, _ := GenerateAES256Key()
+		iv := make([]byte, aes.BlockSize)
+		// A block of padding bytes
+		paddedBlock := bytes.Repeat([]byte{byte(aes.BlockSize)}, aes.BlockSize)
+
+		block, _ := aes.NewCipher(key)
+		mode := cipher.NewCBCEncrypter(block, iv)
+		ciphertext := make([]byte, len(paddedBlock))
+		mode.CryptBlocks(ciphertext, paddedBlock)
+
+		// Prepend IV
+		fullCiphertext := append(iv, ciphertext...)
+
+		// This should decrypt to an empty slice, which is valid
+		decrypted, err := DecryptAES256CBC(key, fullCiphertext)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("DecryptAES256CBC failed for empty plaintext case: %v", err)
+		}
+		if len(decrypted) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("Expected empty plaintext, got %q", decrypted)
 		}
 	})
 }
 
 func TestConstants(t *testing.T) {
-	if AES128KeySize != 16 {
-		t.Errorf("AES128KeySize should be 16, got %d", AES128KeySize)
-	}
-	if AES192KeySize != 24 {
-		t.Errorf("AES192KeySize should be 24, got %d", AES192KeySize)
-	}
 	if AES256KeySize != 32 {
 		t.Errorf("AES256KeySize should be 32, got %d", AES256KeySize)
 	}
-	if DefaultKeySize != AES256KeySize {
-		t.Errorf("DefaultKeySize should be AES256KeySize (%d), got %d", AES256KeySize, DefaultKeySize)
-	}
 }
 
 func BenchmarkAES256CBC(b *testing.B) {