Huge money making opportunity for evil crypto geeks

Philip Brewer · 02-20-2009, 07:16 AM

The NSA is reportedly offering billions to anyone who can come up with a reliable way to eavesdrop on conversations in Skype:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02..._skype_pwnage/

Obviously it's a hard problem, and just as obviously, giving the solution to the NSA would be evil. But, you know... Billions!

hermione · 02-20-2009, 03:25 PM

Darn it, I knew I should've majored computer science!

KevinW · 02-20-2009, 04:13 PM

Well, they probably use RSA or a similar standard encryption scheme, which means if you could break Skype you could also break nearly anything that goes over the web, including bank transactions. If you could eavesdrop or forge any financial transaction, would you rather sell it to the NSA, or keep it secret and make billions in some other evil way?

This is interesting because academic researchers have never proven with mathematical surety that factorization is intractible, so it's possible someone out there has figured it out. There's been a conspiracy theory floating around for a while that the NSA has, but that seems unlikely if the NSA is putting up "billions" for someone to solve it for them.

purplefdu · 02-24-2009, 03:59 PM

Note to self: give husband link as puttering assignment, whats the worst that can happen?

starshard0 · 02-25-2009, 09:51 PM

So they're basically condoning hacking? Or maybe they're just trying to expose hackers so they can punish them.

KevinW · 02-25-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starshard0

So they're basically condoning hacking? Or maybe they're just trying to expose hackers so they can punish them.

Well, this being the NSA, my guess is that suspected terrorists/enemy combatants/whatever are using Skype, and there's presently no way to wiretap them.

Xin Lu · 02-28-2009, 03:31 PM

All you need is a quantum computer, then it's simple.

SurferTiki · 03-07-2009, 12:45 PM

Sweet, I'll get right on it.

Philip Brewer · 03-09-2009, 01:42 PM

Of course, there's also the possibility that it's disinformation from the NSA, intended to convince the bad guys that Skype calls are secure, when in fact the NSA is listening to all of them.

Those intelligence folks are tricksy.

02-20-2009, 07:16 AM	#1
Philip Brewer Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 182 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts Reputation: (27)	Huge money making opportunity for evil crypto geeks The NSA is reportedly offering billions to anyone who can come up with a reliable way to eavesdrop on conversations in Skype: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02..._skype_pwnage/ Obviously it's a hard problem, and just as obviously, giving the solution to the NSA would be evil. But, you know... Billions!

02-20-2009, 03:25 PM	#2
hermione Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: California Posts: 761 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Reputation: (300)	Darn it, I knew I should've majored computer science! __________________ My business: Franga Designs ~ My blog: Pecuniarities ~ My CafePress Shop: Mozartini ~ Follow me on Twitter!

02-24-2009, 03:59 PM	#4
purplefdu Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: York Beach, ME Posts: 627 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (29)	Note to self: give husband link as puttering assignment, whats the worst that can happen? __________________ Homeward Bound Puppy Blog&Personal Blog best general coupon site & organic grocery coupon help

02-25-2009, 09:51 PM	#5
starshard0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 608 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (12)	So they're basically condoning hacking? Or maybe they're just trying to expose hackers so they can punish them. __________________ Why should you read my blog? Because I'm awesome, that's why. من جون جالت؟

02-28-2009, 03:31 PM	#7
Xin Lu Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 440 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (92)	All you need is a quantum computer, then it's simple. __________________ The Baglady @ http://baglady.dreamhosters.com Wise Bread @ http://wisebread.com/xin-lu Following me @XinLuDJ

02-20-2009, 04:13 PM	#3
KevinW Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 77 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (26)	Well, they probably use RSA or a similar standard encryption scheme, which means if you could break Skype you could also break nearly anything that goes over the web, including bank transactions. If you could eavesdrop or forge any financial transaction, would you rather sell it to the NSA, or keep it secret and make billions in some other evil way? This is interesting because academic researchers have never proven with mathematical surety that factorization is intractible, so it's possible someone out there has figured it out. There's been a conspiracy theory floating around for a while that the NSA has, but that seems unlikely if the NSA is putting up "billions" for someone to solve it for them.

03-07-2009, 12:45 PM	#8
SurferTiki Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Reputation: (17)	Sweet, I'll get right on it. __________________ www.surfertiki.com - Wisebread buddies get necklaces and bracelets for only $5 shipped! Contact me if you want to buy anything

03-09-2009, 01:42 PM	#9
Philip Brewer Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 182 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts Reputation: (27)	Of course, there's also the possibility that it's disinformation from the NSA, intended to convince the bad guys that Skype calls are secure, when in fact the NSA is listening to all of them. Those intelligence folks are tricksy.

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