Encryption is less secure than we thought

http://www.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/encryption-is-less-secure-than-we-thought-0814.html

 

New discovery may make encryption ‘exponentially easier’ to break

New discovery may make encryption ‘exponentially easier’ to break.

New research (pdf)

Why were my math professors in college not as attractive as Muriel Médard ( pictured ) from MIT? Oh, now I remember, they were guys.

-- Tom

 

Re: New discovery may make encryption ‘exponentially easier’ to break

In reality, has this ever been proved?

 

Re: New discovery may make encryption ‘exponentially easier’ to break

Since the theory has now been spelled out, it is up to those whom test/experiment with this new theory to implement cases that confirm it. The theoretical proof has already been made. I expect black hatters (even NSA) with theoretical backgrounds will be enticed to pursue the proof in code now that the theory is out there as a rigorous test of the theory, and then put it into use cracking into vulnerable websites

-- Tom

 

I don't really respect MIT anymore. It seems like just a bunch of kids with good memories being groomed for government jobs who get to play around and do what they want so they get addicted to the perks and have to obey to keep them.

 

Schneier's take:

That last line sums up my default initial take on most of these "uh oh, big problems in the crypto world!" "news" items. Every time I hear something like this I'm always quite skeptical as to it even being noteworthy...let alone groundbreaking or of any real significance.

There's just too many announcements like this for even a majority of them to be that big of a deal.

Seriously, read the headlines, and then listen to the actual cryptographers:

ExtremeTech: "New discovery may make encryption ‘exponentially easier’ to break"

Bruce Schneier: [paraphrase] "I don't even see why this is worthy of being reported on."​

It's just another case of ignorant journalists making a big deal out of something they know nothing about because it gives them something to report (i.e. maintain their job and generate attention.)