When asked whether 1024-bit RSA keys are dead, Lenstra said: "The answer to that question is an unqualified yes." Generalized 1024-bit RSA keys are dead. Lenst

When asked whether 1024-bit RSA keys are dead, Lenstra said: "The answer to that question is an unqualified yes." Generalized 1024-bit RSA keys are dead. Lenstra is making a comment on generalized 1024-bit RSA keys in this sentence. Not on Mersenne number factorization (which is, yes, the main topic of this article). My link [2] tells you concretely how to break 1024-bit RSA and estimates the cost to $10M, well within NSA's capabilities.