At 12:27 PM +1100 3/26/02, Julian Assange wrote:
The bigger question is not predicting the effect of Bernstein's
paper, but rather predicting how many similar ideas will be discovered
in the next 30 years, or have already been discovered but not
revealed.
Speculation like this is useful if there exists some means to
make the prediction. As Freeman Dyson wrote some years
ago:
There is no illusion more dangerous than the belief that the progress of science is predictable.
We can see computers and decreased cost/speed of communication as societal
intelligence amplification devices. Both these two variables are increasing
(even if the effect is on order of ln < e < sqrt), but it would be naive
to presume there won't be more of them.
I agree future advances in mathematics will likely affect
cryptography. However, I don't think there's any reason to be
hasty.
At 8:47 AM +0100 3/24/02, Anonymous wrote:
It's too bad that Lucky took the precipitous action of revoking his keys
before the community has had a chance to perform some peer review of
these claims of feasibility. We need to see the analysis, rough though
it may be, so we can judge for ourselves whether these remarkable claims
are sound.
I'm inclined to agree. Bernstein's paper should be given
careful review before everyone starts running off to circulate new
keys.
Further, suppose such a machine were already built. If the
estimates of the power consumption are in the ballpark, there ought to
be traces of the machine's use in demand for energy in the vicinity of
the machine's location. Obviously, you'd have to look beyond the
NSA's (or some other black hat's) electric bill, but sustained
consumption of MW of electricity must leave some tracks. For
example, analysis of NOAA data might reveal hot spots around
facilities where such a machine might be housed. I'm sure there
are other more subtle clues that could be searched. Has anyone
attempted this sort of analysis? That would give an indication
of an immediate threat.
--
john noerenberg
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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While the belief we have found the Answer can separate us
and make us forget our humanity, it is the seeking that continues
to bring us together, that makes and keeps us human.
-- Daniel J. Boorstin, "The Seekers", 1998
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