Re: Lotus Notes Encryption Methods
Perry E. Metzger (perry@imsi.com)
Tue, 14 Mar 1995 18:30:33 -0500
Dr. Frederick B. Cohen says:
> > In the tech notes that I have, it would seemt that RC2 uses a 128bit key an
d
> > RC4 uses a 256bit key.
> >
> > Both these keys seem rather small in comparison to something like PGP's
> > 1028bit key.
>
> 128bit key is about 40 digits - NSA approved - breakable by a PC
> in a few hours.
If you can manage to break a 128 bit RC4 key in a few hours on your
machine, then you likely have about a fifty billion way multiprocessor
hanging out on your desk.
Key lengths from different cryptosystems DO NOT map into each
other. Factoring a 128 bit number is fast -- breaking 128 bit IDEA
keys is not computationally feasable.