Re: Definition of Military / Government grade ciphers

From: Bill Unruh (unruh_at_string.physics.ubc.ca)
Date: 05/30/03 

Date: 29 May 2003 23:56:17 GMT

nationalsecurity@softhome.net (majikcypher) writes:

]Most of the different ciphers I use to encrypt my files are labeled as
]"Military Grade" or "government Strength". But exactly what does this
]mean (and NO i don't mean do they USE the type of encryption because
]that is sort of obvious and I know that it means that it passes their
]little test of how good it should be but I want to know exactly how
]good it has to be to be given this name)? Also what do you think are
]the strongest algorithms (publicly). I like Blowfish and Rijndael.

It means that you have bought your cyphers from snake oil salesmen.
There is no thing as "Military grade" or "government strength" except as
advertising hype.

You question re strength is also silly. There is no "strongest"
algorithm. All the ones you mention are far stronger than is your
security system. Ie, it is far far easier to break into your system and
sniff out the key, than it is to break them by brute force. It is like
asking what is the strongest screw to use in replacing some screw
holding on the cup holder in your car. Almost any screw is strong enough for
the task at hand.