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The End of Encryption?

An anonymous reader writes "The encryption algorithms that make virtually all electronic commerce possible work only because certain mathematical problems are very, very hard to solve. But some mathematicians are trying to prove that there's really no difference between 'hard' and 'not hard' problems--known in the math biz as P and NP. In an article on TechnologyReview.com, Simson Garfinkel spells out the real-world consequences of this mathematical conundrum."

14 of 633 comments (clear)

  1. Me first!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Me me me!!!

  2. Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    What does a folk singer/songwriter know about Mathmatics?

  3. Um... by el-spectre · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Shouldn't they be out singing or writing songs or somesuch?

    --
    "Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel." - A.B.
  4. lol, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    why is this on the front page ?

  5. Eventually by StevenHenderson · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I think that eventually we will reach near-perfect, if not perfect encryption algorithms. Pardon my "n00b"-ness, but I am basing my limited knowledge off of Digital Fortress by Dan Brown, but an algorithm such as that - if you cannot comprehend it being created, you cannot think of it being cracked.

  6. Simson Garfunkel? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    "Like a bridge over digital water, I will lay me down...."

  7. Simson Garfinkel ?? by NeoCode · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    For a second, I thought Simon and Garfunkel changed careers. Well, listening to the music, they probably should have changed their career eons ago.

    I kid. I kid.

  8. setec astronomy by PetoskeyGuy · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Did they also put their whole project into a microchip that connects to a modem and can figure out the username and password of any system no matter what it is from a generic login prompt?

    I hope people start making better movies soon. I don't want to see I,Robot come true.

  9. Does this affect my iPods and mp3 downloads? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I have been an avid fan of iPods for the longest time. With all this md5 encryption crap going on, how do i know that my mp3 downloads will be secure? I suppose my p2p will need more security now.

    freeipods.com

  10. First Post!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic



    First Post!!

    First Post!!

    YAY!!!

  11. Re:First time I read... by ProppaT · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Okay mods, not fair. It was posted a second after the first comment.

    --
    Wise men say, "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
  12. Re:More than Just P=NP by gweihir · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    No it couldn't. Either P=NP or P!=NP. There's no "neither" option allowed.

    Correct, but there is a twist: It may be impossible to prove either (impossible in the mathematical sense), even when one of the two is clearly true. (See Gödels incompleteness theorem)

    And it may also be impossible to prove that there is no proof for either.

    Recurse as desired ;-)

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  13. Re:Sound of Silence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Is he related to Simon & Garfunkel?

    *** sound of Mt. Dew going through my nose *** BWAAAHHAAAHHAAAHAAH! That is PRICELESS! You, Sir, are a COMEDIC GENIUS! The next CARSON! Have you ever tried stand up? *** /me literally rolls on the floor, in pain from the laughing *** Please, next time, give us some warning so we don't choke on our food from your rapier-like wit!

    A modern day classic, that post! Will Rogers had NOTHING on you, Sir! Thank you! You made my day!

  14. Re:My favorite Simson Garfinkel work by Coryoth · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    sleep, what's that?

    A severely debilitating disease usually associated with malnutrition in the form of severe caffeine deficiency.

    Jedidiah.