[Cryptography] New attacks on discrete logs?

[James A. Donald]

On 2014-05-22 11:00, Jerry Leichter wrote:
> I can't figure out from these two articles exactly what's been attacked.  (It's not even clear to me if they are describing two *different* attacks.)  Anyone been following the details?
>
> http://phys.org/news/2014-05-unassailable-encryption-algorithm-hours.html
>
> http://phys.org/news/2014-05-algorithm-cryptography.html

Certain special curves were proposed, were patented, were investigated. 
  Turns out those curves suck.

No one has implemented encryption based on those curves, because, being 
investigated and suspected of suckage.