cryptography on S Anand

Da Vinci Code Quest cracked in 5 minutes

Tue, 23 May 2006 12:00:00 +0000

Dan cracked the final challenge of the Google Da Vinci Code Quest in 5 minutes. The top 10,000 get a cryptex to solve. (Photos)

The Code Book

Tue, 27 May 2003 12:00:00 +0000

The Code Book by Simon Singh is the last book I read. It’s also the only non-fiction I managed to finish in two years.

Prime factorisation algorithm

Sun, 10 Nov 2002 12:00:00 +0000

An update on the IIT-K prime factorisation algorithm. via Matthai Markose

Distributed.net cracked RC5-64

Sat, 28 Sep 2002 12:00:00 +0000

distributed.net cracked RC5-64. RC5-64 is an encryption algorithm developed by RSA. It took 4 years. It looks long. But the big deal is, the algorithm therefore can’t be used for long-term security. More importantly, it’s becoming practical to use distributed computing on a massive scale.

Polynomial time test for primality

Fri, 09 Aug 2002 12:00:00 +0000

Prof. Manindra Agarwal and his students at IIT-K have figured out a polynomial time test for primality. It was an unsolved problem. The RSA algorithm assumes that this is impossible. (NYTimes)

Of course, others have claimed the same. To my knowledge, none is conclusively proven.

What if they’re true? Well, in a few years, our cryptography algorithms will be useless. So it’s back to the drawing board, with security-related dot-coms from Univs popping up.

DeCSS haikus

Sat, 12 Jan 2002 12:00:00 +0000

A truly inspired way of describing DeCSS: DeCSS haikus. (I hope linking to it is not illegal.)

Morse code translator

Tue, 11 Dec 2001 12:00:00 +0000

.- - .-.. .- … - a morse code translator.

Knee-jerk reactions to Sep 11

Thu, 11 Oct 2001 12:00:00 +0000

A good report on the knee-jerk reactions to the WTC attack.

Edgar Allen Poe puzzle solved

Sat, 09 Dec 2000 12:00:00 +0000

Edgar Allen Poe’s 150 year old puzzle has been solved.