Slashdot Mirror


How Long to Crack an 'Encrypted' HD?

brainburger asks: "In the UK, Tony Blair has recently lost a parliametary vote to allow the police to hold terrorist suspects for 90 days without trial. One of the justifications the police gave for the extension from 14 days to 90 days was that they need the extra 76 days to decrypt the computer hard-drives of suspects. This has been seen by some as the only compelling reason to allow 90 days. The time-limit has been extended to 28 days instead, but Tony Blair insists 90 days is required. Are there really any encryption systems that cannot be cracked in 28 days, but which can be cracked in 90? Aside from the not-much-discussed issue that the police can no longer interrogate a suspect after they are charged, I suspect the police meant unencrypted machines. What do you think?"

24 of 733 comments (clear)

  1. Before you answer by denissmith · · Score: 5, Funny

    But remember the requirement - 90 days for the POLICE to crack the encryption- I don't know why they don't just make it 'indefinite detention'.

    --
    I have nothing to hide. So, why are you spying on me?
    1. Re:Before you answer by DarkEdgeX · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've seen CSI, I know it really only takes a few minutes to decrypt a criminals hard drive.

      --
      All I know about Bush is I had a good job when Clinton was president.
    2. Re:Before you answer by Nept · · Score: 4, Funny

      Of all the democratic countries in the world we're

      Even in a democratic country, fawn-coloured suits should be illegal.

      --
      "Teachers leave us kids alone ..." - Roger Waters, Pink Floyd
  2. Whatever it is... by Slashdiddly · · Score: 2, Funny

    it's longer than the suspect's skull during interrogation

    1. Re:Whatever it is... by FLEB · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's a social engineering hack of sorts, albeit the "brute force" method.

      --
      Information wants to be free.
      Entertainment wants to be paid.
      You just want to be cheap.
  3. No more AES by Smarty2120 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd better not use AES to encrypt my hard drive or I'd guess they can hold me without charge until the sun burns out.

  4. Simple answer by __aamcgs2220 · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you want an unreadable hard drive, you can forget about blowfish, twofish, MD5, SHA, and every other cryptographic solution. There is only one way to do it and one number to remember: 1.21 gigawatts.

    1. Re:Simple answer by numbski · · Score: 4, Funny

      But the only way you could get that kind of power is with a bolt of lightning! Unfortunately, one never knows where or when a bolt of lightning might strike. :\

      --

      Karma: Chameleon (mostly due to the fact that you come and go).

    2. Re:Simple answer by martin-boundary · · Score: 2, Funny
      Unfortunately, one never knows where or when a bolt of lightning might strike. :\
      I know exactly what you mean. I keep driving into walls at exactly 88 mph precisely because of this problem. I've already destroyed 15 Deloreans that way.
  5. The answer is.... by The+Ape+With+No+Name · · Score: 3, Funny

    f439f4af0cd24d0d07144ec2f6853d2f

    --
    Comparing it to Windows will be a moot point, since El Dorado is going to have a 40% larger code base than XP.
  6. Better question? by dcapel · · Score: 5, Funny

    How long does it take the police to figure out that my drive is not corrupted, it just isn't running Windows.

    --
    DYWYPI?
    1. Re:Better question? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      How long does it take the police to figure out that my drive is not corrupted, it just IS running Windows

  7. They don't need much time at CTU! by weharc · · Score: 5, Funny

    Come on, I've seen them decrypt files and hard drives in a matter of minutes on 24. What are the pommy police up to, maybe they need to start watching it for tips.

    1. Re:They don't need much time at CTU! by iamdrscience · · Score: 4, Funny
      Come on, I've seen them decrypt files and hard drives in a matter of minutes on 24. What are the pommy police up to, maybe they need to start watching it for tips
      Yeah, that technology is only available in America. They don't have that type of tech in the UK, obviously.
  8. Re:Decrypt ~and~ analyze by needacoolnickname · · Score: 5, Funny

    If they didn't stop to look at all the naked pictures I am sure they could get through it much quicker.

  9. Re:Are they insane?! by iamdrscience · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, no, terrorists are just trying to kill us because they're evil, there's no reason they do it, it's just their evil muslim way. Didn't you get the memo?

  10. Re:Are they insane?! by UserGoogol · · Score: 3, Funny

    You assume that politics and insanity are distinct. :)

    --
    "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
  11. DMCA? by killtherat · · Score: 2, Funny

    So they are attempting to crack encryption of a device that contain copyright'ed material (if this guy saved his email, then anything he wrote should be automatically copyrighted). Isn't this a violation of the DMCA?
    I know I'm probably missing some technicality, but it's a fun thought argument.

  12. How long? by kramthegram · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hell, with a good hammer it only takes one swing! ... What's everybody looking at me for?

  13. Combined methods are the best solution by Ingolfke · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you need complete security from all government agencies (or other parties) you need to combine a strong encryption system like ROT13 with a text-based cyphering system like l33t sp34k. Continued study into lossy 1-bit compression, which effectively reduces and entire file to a single bit, could also be used to thwart the unauthorized individuals from gaining access to your data. Of course, you'd have to accept a little data loss if you chose to compress your encrypted files.

    I am currently working on the next-gen encryption system that will handle binary files better than ROT13 (yes, I know it's hard to believe). This new system will use the same encryption concepts on the entire WORD. I call this system ROTl33tn00b, or R0t3n for short. When I have my code (pure VB6) finished I will release it to the community under GNU/GPL.

  14. The Police... by jd · · Score: 4, Funny

    I dunno - Sting might be really good at maths.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
    1. Re:The Police... by sbryant · · Score: 3, Funny

      I doubt it - he was an English teacher, not a maths teacher.

      -- Steve

  15. Re:Pardon the obvious... by Petrushka · · Score: 4, Funny

    If I had mod points I'd mod you off-topic. That's not a comment on you, it's a comment on what the world is becoming.

  16. Re:Encryption key? What encryption key? by Dachannien · · Score: 2, Funny

    Tony Blair: Fezzik, tear his arms off.
    lorcha: Oh, you mean this encryption key.