Computing Article: Banks & Keys Recovery

[Richard Clayton]

In article <199803260528_MC2-3802-72CF@compuserve.com>, John R T Brazier
<Prunesquallor@compuserve.com> writes

>Jones said that he believed there were simpler ways to allow access to
>encrypted data. He added that, in his opinion, medium-strength encryption -
>64-bit DES - should not necessitate key recovery because codes could be
>cracked 'with a couple of Crays and a following wind'.

Blaze et al estimated it at $38/key in 1995 (spend $300M and you get to
crack them in 12 seconds, spend $300K and it takes 3 hours). These
bankers are clearly intending to move only small value cheques around

        http://www.bsa.org/policy/encryption/cryptographers.html

-- 
richard                      richard.clayton    @    T U R N P I K E .com
 http://www.demon.net/news/features/crypto/  for Demon's views on crypto
"Assembly of Japanese bicycle require great peace of mind" quoted in ZAMM