"Perry E. Metzger" <perry@piermont.com> writes:

> Petr Swedock <petr@blade-runner.mit.edu> writes:

> > > at your data like breaking in to your physical location. Silly me. I
> > > guess I missed the concept behind crypto.
> > 
> > The concept behind crypto is to confuse, scramble and obfuscate.
> 
> I'm glad you've explained it to me.

Glad I could help =-)

> > When it was first designed for and employed in computers the existing 
> > mathematical models, computer muscle and modes of analysis were
> > thought to assure unbreakability.  Now the use has morphed into
> > a race condition where present mathematical models and future 
> > computer muscle, coupled with existing modes of analysis are
> > thought to assure breakability.
> 
> So, this means that because a person with a billion in spare change
> lying about might (MIGHT!) be able to break a 1024 bit key every year,
> we should all panic?

I'm quite sure I'm not advocating panic. I'm only addressing 
your (perhaps flippant) remark about the concept behind crypto:
which remark seemed to indicate the existence of a non-nil
utility function from the moment crypto was first conceptualized.

Peace,

Petr