this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2024
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The private key, or a symmetric key would break the algorithm. It's kind of the point that a person having those can read it. The public key is the one you can show people.
Doesn't break the algorithm though, you would just have the key and then can use the algorithm (that still works!) to decrypt data.
Also you're talking about one class of cryptography, the concept of key knowledge varies between algorithms.
My point is an attacker having knowledge of the key is a compromise, not a successful break of the algorithm..
"the attacker beat my ass until I gave them the key", doesn't mean people should stop using AES or even RSA, for example.
The purpose is to access the data. This is a bypass attack, rather than a mathematical one. It helps to remember that encryption is rarely used in the abstract. It is used as part of real world security.
There are actually methods to defend against it. The most effective is a "duress key". This is the key you give up under duress. It will decrypt an alternative version of the file/drive, as well as potentially triggering additional safeguards. The key point is the attacker won't know if they have the real files, and there is nothing of interest, or dummy ones.
I appreciate the explaination, that's a cool scheme, but what I saying is the human leaking the key is not the fault of the algorithm.
Everyone and everything is, on a very pedantic level, weak to getting their ass beat lol
That doesn't make it crypt analysis
An encryption scheme is only as strong as its weakest link. In academic terms, only the algorithm really matters. In the real world however, implementation is as important.
The human element is an element that has to be considered. Rubber hose cryptanalysis is a tongue and cheek way of acknowledging that. It also matters since some algorithms are better at assisting here. E.g. 1 time key Vs passwords.
Very informative, I think people will learn from what you're saying, but it doesn't really matter to what I'm saying.
Yes, absolutely, consider the human element in your data encryption and protection schemes and implementations.
Beating someone with a pipe is a joke, but not really defeating an algorithm.
Okay, I don't know if anyone was saying we should abandon encryption, though.