At 12:50 AM 1/26/96 -0500, Futplex wrote:

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It would be just as easy to build the intl. version of Notes with 128-bit+spy

keys, with 40 bits of truly protected key and 88 bits of espionage-enabled key, and then use straight 128 bits in the domestic version.

Does anyone else find it worrisome that given 24 bits of a 64-bit key, the encryption may not be as strong as the same algorithm with a 40-bit key (e.g., for a variable key-length algorithm like RC4)? In other words, I suspect some algorithms might not derive their protection mechanisms equally from each key bit. What if guess the remaining 40 bits is as easy as guessing the rest of xyl******? Just pondering. Karl