From: Karl Lui Barrus <klbarrus@owlnet.rice.edu>
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 94 15:30:42 PST
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: PGP
Message-ID: <9402012329.AA08073@wahoo.owlnet.rice.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


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>Brute-forcing IDEA takes about as much computation as factoring
>something between a 1200 and 3000 bit RSA key (I've heard both
>numbers, but I don't know the numbers).  So, in the current
>implementation, RSA is the weak link!

Yes, I think that the turnaround point is right around 1600 bits, at
which IDEA is "easier" than RSA.

Assuming of course brute force is the fastest way to break IDEA;
the fastest (known|published) factoring method runs in time
proportional to the formula I typed out, etc.

Karl Barrus
klbarrus@owlnet.rice.edu


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