5 ms·

I have always been curious why encryption keys are so small. with todays networks/memory 10kbytes key should not be un noticable.

• duskwuff 13y ago
  If a cryptographic algorithm is fundamentally secure, a small (128 - 256 byte) key will be all it needs to be secure. If an algorithm can't be secure with a key that size, giving it a bigger key is likely to only make it marginally better.
  • quelsolaar 13y ago
    Yes but it removes the entire discussion about when a particular algorithm becomes viable to break brute force.
    • duskwuff 13y ago
      No, that's simply not true. A 128 - 256 bit key is already infeasible to brute-force, so long as the algorithm uses the key appropriately.