The following is from RISKS List ------- Forwarded message follows ------- Israeli computer scientist Adi Shamir is expected to present a paper outlining the design of a yet-to-be-built-machine that could quickly decipher computer generated codes. Shamir -- who represents the 'S' in RSA encryption design -- will present his paper this week at the International Association for Cryptographic Research in Prague, which begins Monday. Shamir's idea would combine existing technology into a special task computer that would make factoring numbers as long as 150 digits much easier. As a result, codes accepted as reasonably secure for financial transactions and government communications would be much easier to decipher. Researchers say the machine could be built at a relatively low cost, and that key systems of 512 bits or less (keys of about 140 digits or less) would be vulnerable. Longer 1,024-bit keys would still be out of reach for Shamir's new machine. (*The New York Times*, 2 May 1999; Edupage, 3 May 1999)
