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ISTR that the "rule of thumb" is that the NSA is a couple of years ahead of the mainstream for both Mathematics and computer tech. I don't know how valid that i
by durin42 17y ago
ISTR that the "rule of thumb" is that the NSA is a couple of years ahead of the mainstream for both Mathematics and computer tech. I don't know how valid that is, but it probably is a decent baseline for paranoia.
- eru 17y agoInteresting. How do these estimates square with the perceived advantages of open source development over closed source in the realm of software? The NSA has more money, but so do many commercial software companies. Does the NSA have other advantages? Is cryptography so different from software? Or does the NSA just fool people about their level of sophistication but relies on Rubber-hose cryptanalysis and eaves-dropping on telephone calls to get their result?
- cperciva 17y agoISTR that the "rule of thumb" is that the NSA is a couple of years ahead of the mainstream for both Mathematics and computer tech. For cryptographic research, that's probably true. For "computer technology" in general, probably not -- they have a large budget, but not so large that it would make sense for them to independently replicate all of the work companies like Intel and IBM do on lithographic processes. I'm sure the NSA has access to fabrication capacity, though -- almost certainly via deals with US companies to allow them to run a few wafers here and there.