1995-08-19 - 64 bit keys breakable by the NSA or just some random key length?

Header Data

From: zinc <zinc@zifi.genetics.utah.edu>
To: cypherpunks <cypherpunks@toad.com>
Message Hash: 0d4fb0de59e9ebc42610335141e34de24743014cf21575e70779dfa4d419b27d
Message ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.950819123758.27374A-100000@zifi.genetics.utah.edu>
Reply To: N/A
UTC Datetime: 1995-08-19 18:50:26 UTC
Raw Date: Sat, 19 Aug 95 11:50:26 PDT

Raw message

From: zinc <zinc@zifi.genetics.utah.edu>
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 95 11:50:26 PDT
To: cypherpunks <cypherpunks@toad.com>
Subject: 64 bit keys breakable by the NSA or just some random key length?
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.950819123758.27374A-100000@zifi.genetics.utah.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


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cpunks,

i was thinking about the recent Clinton/LEA proposal regarding exportable 
crypto.  the new rules would allow 64 bit keys to be exported, as long
as the master key was made available through some key escrow service.

now, we know it is relatively easy to break a 40 bit key.
additionally, we know it is nearly impossible to break 128 bits.  i'm
not so sure how hard 64 bits is (need to brush up on that ol'
mathematics some time...).

why did the govt pick 64 bits?  is this length still within the range
of the NSA if they really wanted to read something but didn't feel the
need or want the exposure of obtaining a key from escrow?

i'm curious if anyone thinks this gives us a little more info on the
capabilities of the NSA regarding brute forcing a key.  additionally,
since this *is* an escrow system, why didn't the gov't just go with
the unbreakable 128 bit key length?  

- -pjf


patrick finerty = zinc@zifi.genetics.utah.edu = pfinerty@nyx.cs.du.edu
U of Utah biochem grad student in the Bass lab - zinc fingers + dsRNA!
** FINGER zinc-pgp@zifi.genetics.utah.edu for pgp public key - CRYPTO!
zifi runs LINUX 1.2.11 -=-=-=WEB=-=-=->  http://zifi.genetics.utah.edu 


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