[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
*fnord* "Encryption Flaw Rattles Security Industry *fnord*
- To: [email protected]
- Subject: *fnord* "Encryption Flaw Rattles Security Industry *fnord*
- From: [email protected]
- Date: Sun, 10 Dec 1995 22:34:43 -0800
- Comments: This message is NOT from the person listed in the Fromline. It is from an automated software remailing service operating atthat address.THE PORTAL SYSTEM DOES NOT CONDONE OR APPROVE OF THE CONTENTS OF THISPOSTING. Please report problem mail to <[email protected]>.
- Sender: [email protected]
"Encryption Flaw Rattles Comuter Security Industry"
SAN FRANCISCO - The discovery of a vulvnerability has shaken
the computer world's faith in the safe use of the data-security
technologies on which most current and planned electronic
banking, shopping and "digital cash" systems are based.
The vulnerability has been found in a class of technologies
known as public-key encryption - designed to provide electronic
transactions by scrambling data so they can be read only by
people with the proper mathematical keys to the code.
The flaw was identified by Paul C. Kocher, a 22-year-old
researcher, who demonstrated a way that an electronic
eavesdropper who is able to monitor the repeated process
of unscrambling the incoming messages could figure out the private key. It can be done by repeatedly keeping track
of the precise length of time it takes to unscramble each
message.
--From TimesFax, Mon. Dec. 11 Internet Edition