CHAPTER 6

Bad Encryption

Publisher Summary

A good cryptography system is open for inspection by everyone and is vetted by experts, and the consensus established that the algorithms used are secure. Many companies and products attempt to add security by hiding the details of their encryption system behind patents, trade secrets, or nondisclosure agreements. This is usually called security by obscurity and is generally not considered a very good security system. In security by obscurity, if an attacker learns how the system works, usually one is able to figure a way around it or a shortcut through it. Moxie Marlinspike launched wpacracker.com and the wireless world took notice of the availability of cheap processing power and its potential in password ...

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