What is RC5?

MrCraphead

Platinum Member
Sep 20, 2000
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I have no earthly idea what it is. I visited Anandtech's RC5 page, and from what I gather it's something like you use your CPU cycles to try and decode and find a key or something?! Something like SETI I gather right? Someone set me straight here.....
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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rc5 has your cpu check decoding keys for an encryption algorithm. a cpu can decode lots of keys in 1 second, but theres 2^64 keys (64 bit encryption). rsa labs came up with the encryption, and had a contest for someone to break it, to prove how hard it is to break. distributed.net was set up to handle this, and after 3 years hasn't broken it yet. every ket will have been checked in the 14 months or so though, so the contest will end by then. of course, it could end tomorrow if they find the right key.

(i figure 14 months because currently the keyrate is double the average keyrate over the last 36 months, so without the keyrate increasing, it would take half the time. since the keyrate is increasing, i did a little bit of guesstimating that it will shave 4 months off. of course, the way dennifloss is going, the keyspace could be exhausted in a year or less)
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
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SETI uses spare cpu cycles to search for Alien signals in a data block(Work Unit)
RC5 uses spare cpu cycles to try to crack a 64 bit encryption code.

If you want more details I'm sure the RC5 guys will be here quickly :)
 

Assimilator1

Elite Member
Nov 4, 1999
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Hey Elfinex

That's twice you've beaten me to it now!:p;) ,well I give up I'm to bed now anyway ;)hehe
 

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
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When the contest ends, most clients will switch to Dnet's other project, OGR; and the winner gets $1000.:)
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
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Mar 20, 2000
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somehow, when i posted my reply, ass1 hadn't gotten that one above me... and apparently when he posted his he was behind me too... very strange magicks are these... !