Path: transfer.stratus.com!ellisun.sw.stratus.com!cme From: cme@ellisun.sw.stratus.com (Carl Ellison) Newsgroups: sci.crypt Subject: Skipjack review as a side-track Date: 2 Aug 1993 21:25:11 GMT Organization: Stratus Computer, Marlboro MA Lines: 28 Message-ID: <23k0nn$8gk@transfer.stratus.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: ellisun.sw.stratus.com It amuses the gallows-humor bone in me to see people busily debating the quality of Skipjack as an algorithm and the quality of the review of its strength. Someone proposes to dangle you over the Grand Canyon using sewing thread tied to steel chain tied to knitting yarn and you're debating whether the steel chain has been X-rayed properly to see if there are flaws in the metal. Key generation, chip fabrication, court orders, distribution of keys once acquired from escrow agencies and safety of keys within escrow agencies are some of the real weaknesses. Once those are as strong as my use of 1024-bit RSA and truly random session keys in keeping keys on the two sides of a conversation with no one in the middle able to get the key, then we need to look at the steel chain in the middle: Skipjack itself. -- - <<Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are my own, of course.>> - Carl Ellison cme@sw.stratus.com - Stratus Computer Inc. M3-2-BKW TEL: (508)460-2783 - 55 Fairbanks Boulevard ; Marlborough MA 01752-1298 FAX: (508)624-7488