Time: Sun Aug 10 10:46:40 1997 by primenet.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id KAA07803; Sun, 10 Aug 1997 10:31:29 -0700 (MST) by usr10.primenet.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id KAA16270; Sun, 10 Aug 1997 10:29:31 -0700 (MST) Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 10:28:24 -0700 To: Eudora for Windows <eudora-win@wso.williams.edu> From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar] Subject: SLS: PGP and Freedom If you read the mathematical appendix in the original PGP book, you will learn that the most important factor in key security is its length, in binary digits ("bits"). I do remember a strong recommendation to go with 1,024 bits, or more. Each bit doubles the computational complexity of the task required to "crack" a key. The complexity of a 1,024-bit key would require all the known computers in the world to do approximately a century of exhaustive numerical tests, in order to solve the encryption pattern. Now that computers are getting faster, by leaps and bounds, and hard disks are plummeting in price, there is much to be said for going with even larger keys, e.g. 2,048 bits. For example, Digital Equipment Corporation ("DEC") is now shipping the Alpha chip which oscillates at 500MHz; this is FIVE TIMES the rate of FM radio stations! We will see gigahertz clock speeds in our lifetime, without any doubt!! Treat yourself to this mathematical appendix, and you will be delighted to learn some new concepts like "MIPS-year" -- the amount of computing power required to execute at one million instructions per second, for a whole year's worth of real time, kind of like a "light-year". One hundred MIPS-years is one MIPS-century, and so on. A magnificently written biological metaphor, for this unprecedented era in computer technology development, is found in Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's essay entitled "The Formation of the Noosphere," from his book entitled "The Future of Man." I have the essay in electronic form, if anyone would like a copy. I get goose bumps whenever I think about this essay, and I have read it about 20 times (I needed to, because Father Teilhard was in the highest possible IQ bracket). He resolves a number of apparent contradictions in his metaphor, by resorting to the universal principle of freedom. Sincerely, /s/ Paul Mitchell http://www.supremelaw.com At 10:09 AM 8/10/97 -0700, you wrote: >Can someone explain the differences in the PGP programs that are now >available...I am not sure of the differences....all these keys running >around...lot of jingling.... > >Also...is one more bullet proof then the others? Does this truly matter? >Are they compatible with each other?...do I need to run various versions >depending on who has which program?... > >Very confusing to the uninitiated.... > >-Michael >mailto:mcohen@crl.com > >--------- >This message brought to you by WSO - http://wso.williams.edu/ >To unsubscribe, send any message to eudora-win-off@wso.williams.edu >FAQ available at http://wso.williams.edu/~eudora/ >Searchable message archive: http://wso.williams.edu/listserv/eudora-win/ > > ======================================================================== Paul Andrew Mitchell : Counselor at Law, federal witness B.A., Political Science, UCLA; M.S., Public Administration, U.C. Irvine tel: (520) 320-1514: machine; fax: (520) 320-1256: 24-hour/day-night email: [address in tool bar] : using Eudora Pro 3.0.3 on 586 CPU website: http://www.supremelaw.com : visit the Supreme Law Library now ship to: c/o 2509 N. Campbell, #1776 : this is free speech, at its best Tucson, Arizona state : state zone, not the federal zone Postal Zone 85719/tdc : USPS delays first class w/o this As agents of the Most High, we came here to establish justice. We shall not leave, until our mission is accomplished and justice reigns eternal. ======================================================================== [This text formatted on-screen in Courier 11, non-proportional spacing.]
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