Andy Kunz wrote:

> As in all security areas, the ILLUSION of security is what sells it.
> Lehigh University cracked RSA several years ago during summer break.  I
> believe it was a brute-force attack, because they used all the X boxes on
> campus to do it.
>
> The fact that the gov't is pushing so hard for a known back door for police
> leads me to believe that there is a generic solution that exists but they
> wish for hostiles to feel it's 100% and therefore have all our enemies
> using our key.  Pretty slick.
>
> Andy
>
> ==================================================================
>                      Andy Kunz - Montana Design
>           Go fast, turn right, and keep the wet side down!
> ==================================================================


What about these computers the USA government is building for "nuclear
testing".
Like the one Intel built with about 9000 Pentium Pro's (I forget exact
details).  I read about IBM winning a contract recently to build another
big computer, successor to Deep Blue or something, for the USA govt.
(They must have some mean games of chess in the pentagon!)

Might they be using these to crack encrypted data (in their lunch break,
when not cracking atoms, or playing chess)?

<insert twilight zone theme music here>

Also, if they know a back door, then the illusion will be lost after
their first prosecution, because it will be public and everyone will
figure out how the government got the evidence, unless they make an
excuse for that too.