A call for aid in cracking a 1024-bit malware key

[James Muir]

Steven M. Bellovin wrote:
> According to
> http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9094818&intsrc=hm_list%3E%20&articleId=9094818&intsrc=hm_list
> some new malware is encrypting files with a 1024-bit RSA key.  Victims
> are "asked" to pay a random to get their files decrypted.  So -- can
> the key be factored?

I saw a similar story reported on Slashdot a few days ago.  I wonder if 
the malware authors cited Adam Young and Moti Yung?  They hypothesized 
about such malware a few years ago:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptovirology

-James

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