From: Sasha Chislenko (sasha1@netcom.com)
Date: Mon May 03 1999 - 14:12:15 MDT
ISRAELI SCIENTIST REPORTS DISCOVERY OF ADVANCE IN CODE BREAKING
Israeli computer scientist Adi Shamir is expected to present a
paper outlining the design of a yet-to-be-built-machine that could
quickly decipher computer generated codes. Shamir -- who represents
the 'S' in RSA encryption design -- will present his paper this week
at the International Association for Cryptographic Research in
Prague, which begins Monday. Shamir's idea would combine existing
technology into a special task computer that would make factoring
numbers as long as 150 digits much easier. As a result, codes accepted
as reasonably secure for financial transactions and government
communications would be much easier to decipher. Researchers say the
machine could be built at a relatively low cost, and that key systems
of 512 bits or less (keys of about 140 digits or less) would be
vulnerable. Longer 1,024-bit keys would still be out of reach for
Shamir's new machine. (New York Times 05/02/99)
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