This takes "cracking Netscape security as a new benchmark" to a whole new level. On Thu, 18 Jan 1996, David Golombek wrote:
MIT Student Uses ICE Graphics Computer
To Break Netscape Security in Less Than 8 Days
What does this have to do with Netscape? This is about brute-forcing 40-bit RC4. While Netscape does deserve flogging with a wet noodle down to the seventh generation for their initial press response, this singling out Netscape is annoying me a little.
While being an active proponent of stronger export encryption, Netscape Communications (NSCP), developer of the SSL security protocol, has said that to decrypt an Internet session would cost at least $10,000 in computing time.
OK, well, in that case.
workstations, Doligez averaged 850,000 keys per second.ICE used the following formula to determine its $584 cost of computing power: the total cost of the computer divided by the number of days in a three-year lifespan (1,095), multiplied by the number of days (7.7) it takes to break the code.
This assumes, of however, that collecting encrypted communications, feeding them to the computer with 100% efficiency, electricity, labor, etc. are completely free. I hope everyone recognizes this as more old news and ICE marketing. In a fantasy world, the press et al would see this and clamor for the revocation of ITAR. -rich