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Own Your Own 128-Bit Integer

Byte Swapper writes "After all the fuss over the AACS trying to censor a certain 128-bit number that now has something over two million hits on Google, the folks at Freedom to Tinker would like to point out that you too can own your own integer. They've set up a script that will generate a random number, encrypt a copyrighted haiku with it, and then deed the number back to you. You won't get a copyright on the number or the haiku, but your number has become an illegal circumvention device under the DMCA, such that anyone subject to US law caught distributing it can be punished under the DMCA's anti-trafficking section, for which the DMCA's Safe Harbor provisions do not apply. So F9090211749D5BE341D8C5565663C088 is truly mine now, and you can pry it out of my cold, dead fingers!"

6 of 477 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Prime numbers by afaik_ianal · · Score: 2, Informative

    No. Most encryption is done with ordinary private (random) keys. The keys are often securely exchanged with public key cryptography (the one with the prime keys), but you gain little from using prime numbers to do your bulk encryption, at a considerable computational cost.

    DMCA prevents circumventing copy-protection techniques. It covers the private keys, which are usually just really long random integers.

  2. Re:Which integer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    It's not copyrighted, it's just used to protect content and can't be shared because of DMCA.

  3. Re:Kudos to Heavy Metal Jacket by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    That's FULL metal Jacket.

  4. Re:Typical of liberals... by I+don't+want+to+spen · · Score: 3, Informative

    You missed out 'How many roads must a man walk down?'

    --
    Don't go to a brothel if you want to buy broth
  5. Re:Kudos to Heavy Metal Jacket by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Actually, you should cite the Marine Corps. The movie is just quoting part of their "Rifleman's Creed".

    http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/marine_corps_rif leman's_creed.htm

  6. Re:Why stop there by alx5000 · · Score: 2, Informative

    int decrypt (char *supposedkey) {

    return (strlen(supposedkey)==16);

    }

    Mmmm... any 128 bit alphanumeric key can decrypt this... others won't work... for better fun, add a 0-9,a-f checker... can't be bothered now...

    --
    My 0.02 cents