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...the IDEA encryption algorithm used in PGP is actually MUCH stronger than RSA given the same key length. Even with a 1024 bit RSA key, it is believed that IDEA encryption is still stronger, and, since a chain is no stronger than it's weakest link, it is believed that RSA is actually the weakest part of the RSA - IDEA approach. Confirmation?
True; it is more expensive to do a brute force search over the IDEA keyspace than it is to factor a 1024 bit number using the best known factoring algorithm :) I did some calculations once and I think the crossover point is between 1500 and 1600 bits, at which point factoring becomes more difficult than searching. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.3a iQCVAgUBLUA1OoOA7OpLWtYzAQGjwwQAwhDqTc6TKZqEjfO1xbC1llasfVfOL3wM 72ofDeWtw7vtdxFb98iLShomdwr12G6I+7qbHwzKyLM5+r/T/DzNRAW2e+MD894Y DNAZazRz2YLuiGpr0LBSC1S6EyFbtcuwoPh1U5LORyUrEo4YCJsYYoFfcnN+Vb8B ddv28VkktBs= =irY2 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----