Multiple "valid" decryptions

Thread View: sci.crypt

2 messages

[T] Back to Threads [V] Tree View [G] Group Articles

2 total messages Started by Bob Devine Thu, 18 Dec 1986 02:43

#3318

Author: Bob Devine
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1986 02:43

14 lines
1044 bytes

  Something to reflect upon, when thinking about decrypting a message
using a key with a very large range, is the large number of possible
decryptions that may result.  Obviously, most of the decryptions
when using a random key will be garbage.  However, what's intriguing
is the thought that some of the random keys will produce random
interesting messages.

  For comparison, what were the odds in the old puzzle about 100
monkees coming up with Shakespearean plays after hammering randomly
on typewriters for a million years?

Bob Devine
[ encrypting my name produces 13013...:-)]

Re: Multiple "valid" decryptions

#3322

Author: Bruce McNair
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1986 19:17

15 lines
1234 bytes

> 
>   Something to reflect upon, when thinking about decrypting a message
> using a key with a very large range, is the large number of possible
> decryptions that may result.  Obviously, most of the decryptions
> when using a random key will be garbage.  However, what's intriguing
> is the thought that some of the random keys will produce random
> interesting messages.
> Bob Devine
> [ encrypting my name produces 13013...:-)]

The whole strength of the "one time pad" cryptosystem (the only publically
known, provably secure against all attacks cryptosystem) is based on that 
fact - a cipher can be decrypted into any of 2**n plaintexts (for an
n bit message) and all are equally plausible plaintexts, given the
cipher.

Thread Navigation

This is a paginated view of messages in the thread with full content displayed inline.

Messages are displayed in chronological order, with the original post highlighted in green.

Use pagination controls to navigate through all messages in large threads.

Back to All Threads