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A Mighty Number Falls

Posted by kdawson on from the time-to-generate-new-keys dept.

space_in_your_face writes "An international team has broken a long-standing record in an impressive feat of calculation. On March 6, computer clusters from three institutions (the EPFL, the University of Bonn, and NTT in Japan) reached the end of eleven months of strenuous calculation, churning out the prime factors of a well-known, hard-to-factor number — 2^1039 - 1 — that is 307 digits long." The lead researcher believes "the writing is on the wall" for 1024-bit encryption. "Last time, it took nine years for us to generalize from a special to a non-special hard-to factor number (155 digits). I won't make predictions, but let's just say it might be a good idea to stay tuned."

20 of 348 comments (clear)

  1. What are they? by Hatta · · Score: 4, Funny

    I read TFA, it didn't say what the factors were. Does anyone know?

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    1. Re:What are they? by jfengel · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hang on, I'm working on it. I'll get back to you.

    2. Re:What are they? by IthnkImParanoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      They were about to write them down when the computer was destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass. I guess we'll find out in 11 months or so.

      On the plus side, the staff has quicker access to the nearest janitorial supply closet.

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    3. Re:What are they? by Hatta · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hang on, I'm working on it. I'll get back to you.

      It's not going to take 11 months is it?

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    4. Re:What are they? by VAXcat · · Score: 4, Funny

      I know them, but I can't tell you, since they are also copyrighted AACS keys...

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    5. Re:What are they? by brunascle · · Score: 5, Funny

      for the love of god, please tell me you got those numbers from the results of the project

    6. Re:What are they? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hey, that's the same combination I have on my luggage!

    7. Re:What are they? by sanimalp · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, he just works for the NSA.

  2. An NSA spokesperson disagrees by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    NSA research indicates that 1024-bit encryption is unbreakable and everyone should be using it.

  3. this too by Himring · · Score: 4, Funny

    Knowing this, too, will not help you pick up chicks in a bar....

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  4. One down, by seaturnip · · Score: 4, Funny

    infinity left to go!

  5. Re:Why Does Encryption Need to "Scramble" Informat by goddidit · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://xkcd.com/c257.html
    Navajo code is pretty easy to crack.

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  6. Re:Next step: FPGA cracking by 2short · · Score: 4, Funny

    Quantum computers have that one nagging flaw: they don't actually exist.

  7. Re:Next step: FPGA cracking by StarfishOne · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is that before or after looking at the machine? ;-)

    (forgive me, I love quantum-related jokes... ^_~)

  8. Re:Next step: FPGA cracking by maxwell+demon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that before or after looking at the machine? ;-)

    (forgive me, I love quantum-related jokes... ^_~) Yes.

    (forgive me, I love logic-related jokes ... :-))
    --
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  9. Re:How many people have the computing power ... by Abcd1234 · · Score: 5, Funny

    in fact you have about a 1 in 300 chance of pulling 1024-bit prime out of your ass

    Wow, now *that* is a cool trick!

  10. Re:Wrong number, in both the GP and the summary! by AshNazg · · Score: 4, Funny

    Use bc instead.
    The factors are correct. Just checked.

    And don't doubt me, I'm a 3 digits UID

  11. Re:Next step: FPGA cracking by moosesocks · · Score: 4, Funny

    Quantum computers have that one nagging flaw: they don't actually exist.

    Quantum computers have that one nagging flaw: they actually exist.

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  12. Re:How many people have the computing power ... by rpresser · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps you should see the Prime Number Shitting Bear.

    Originally at http://www.primenumbershittingbear.com/ but that's long dead, so I dug it out of the Wayback Machine and put it up at http://rpresser.googlepages.com/primenumbershittin gbear.html . Enjoy.

  13. Re:Damn, beaten, somewhat. by morcego · · Score: 4, Funny

    I just checked with Netcraft, and they also confirmed it.

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