"For example a 40-bit key takes about $10,000 worth of supercomputer time and two weeks to crack. Although this key may be adequate to protect my checking account, it's probably not large enough for the accounts of a major corporation.
The figures look familiar. No references around. I'm not sure it would require a whole two weeks for 40-bits, though. Possibly less than a day? (Or was that why you asked baout the figures?)
Um, These 'NT Magizine' people are rather clueless. A $400 FPGA can crack a 40 bit key in an average of 5 hours. See the report by seven well-known experts at http://www.bsa.org/bsa/cryptologists.html ===================================================================== | Steve Reid - SysAdmin & Pres, EDM Web (http://www.edmweb.com/) | | Email: steve@edmweb.com Home Page: http://www.edmweb.com/steve/ | | PGP (2048/9F317269) Fingerprint: 11C89D1CD67287E68C09EC52443F8830 | | -- Disclaimer: JMHO, YMMV, TANSTAAFL, IANAL. -- | ===================================================================:)