[Cryptography] Popular curves (was: NSA and cryptanalysis)

ianG iang at iang.org
Wed Sep 4 02:20:03 EDT 2013


On 3/09/13 18:13 PM, Phillip Hallam-Baker wrote:
....
>     The real issue is that the P-521 curve has IP against it, so if you
>     want to use freely usable curves, you're stuck with P-256 and P-384
>     until some more patents expire. That's more of it than 192 bit
>     security. We can hold our noses and use P-384 and AES-256 for a while.
>
>              Jon
>
>
> What is the state of prior art for the P-384? When was it first published?
>
> Given that RIM is trying to sell itself right now and the patents are
> the only asset worth having, I don't have good feelings on this. Well
> apart from the business opportunities for expert witnesses specializing
> in crypto.
>
> The problem is that to make the market move we need everyone to decide
> to go in the same direction. So even though my employer can afford a
> license, there is no commercial value to that license unless everyone
> else has access.
>
>
> Do we have an ECC curve that is (1) secure and (2) has a written
> description prior to 1 Sept 1993?


(Not answering your direct question.)  Personally, I was happy to plan 
on using DJB's Curve25519.  He's done the research and says it is good. 
  Comments?


> Due to submarine patent potential, even that is not necessarily enough
> but it would be a start.



iang




More information about the cryptography mailing list