Note that doubling the key size from 1024 to 2048 bits is also probably a ruse, since it dramatically increases computation time (I think). 1024 bits are a lot of bits as it is.

On a 486DX/33 an RSA sign operation takes a little under 2 seconds with a 1024 bit key. With an 1800 bit key (not quite 2048), a little under 9 seconds. (gcc 2.5.8, gmp 1.3.2, Linux) Personally, I think 1024 bit keys are probably enough. I'm currently working on some Montgomery multiplication code for RSAREF (sans gmp), which should make things faster. (It already works, I just need to clean some things up before releasing it). Mark -- Mark Henderson markh@wimsey.bc.ca (personal account) RIPEM MD5OfPublicKey: F1F5F0C3984CBEAF3889ADAFA2437433 ViaCrypt PGP Key Fingerprint: 21 F6 AF 2B 6A 8A 0B E1 A1 2A 2A 06 4A D5 92 46 cryptography archive maintainer -- anon ftp -- wimsey.bc.ca:/pub/crypto