Re: RSA Challenge Question


Curious_1 wrote:
On Feb 12, 8:09 am, "Pubkeybreaker" <pubkeybrea...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi there,
This might seem like a silly question but I wanted to know .... what
would happen if someone came up with a polynomial time algorithm for
solving the hardest ofRSA Challengenumbers?
Let's even take it to it's logical extreme .... what would happen if
someone came up with a general method for integer factorization that
was as simple (and equally time consuming) as multiplying the factors
to arrive at the product?

They would probably win the Fields medal.

I strongly doubt that, unless the algorithm required some deep
insight and
deep new mathematics.

Would this person's life be over as they knew it? Would they be
assassinated? Would they be forced to live the rest of their lives in
some sort of Siberia, with no contact with the rest of the world???

Huh? Why would you think such a thing? One would simply publish the
algorithm. Doing so would cause some temporary upheavals; SSL
implementations
would have to be re-worked (and quickly!) for example. Some existing
software would
instantly become obsolete.

Assuming major businesses and governments use RSA for encryption,

RSA is not used for encryption.

It is used for digital signatures and key exchange.

Where did you get the idea that anyone encrypts sensitive documents
with RSA??

wouldn't their sensitive documents be at risk? Instantly?

No.

When the person (John Doe) submits their results to RSA, some chap
(Chappy) working at RSA might say "one moment please while I verify
the results", quickly call a friend of a friend of a friend, have
*them* (Sally Jane) submit the results, wherein Chappy calls John Doe,
says "sorry, someone else, Sally Jane, has beat you to it ... so close
though! Keep up the good work"

You are suggesting that the people at RSA who check the results might
subvert the process for their own personal gain. If I were still at
RSA, I would
be very insulted by your suggestion.

This scenario is so far fetched as to be ridiculous. People
submitting results
must submit data about how the factorization was effected. And
whoever
"Sally Jane" is would have no credibility in terms of their ability
to achieve
the result. It would very quickly become clear that "Sally Jane"
knows nothing
about factorization algorithms.

The people at RSA who check the results have a lot of personal
integrity.

.

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