Encryption algorithm makes systems harder to crack

-- EDN, 2/17/2000

The Tumbler software-tool kit from NTRU Cryptosystems implements NTRU, a public-key-cryptography system that the company claims delivers encryption, decryption, authentication, and digital-signature features more than 100 times faster than alternative systems. This generation of independent keys-those not based on keys used in a previous transaction-allows you to encrypt larger content, such as music and video data, with different keys, thus increasing the cost and difficulty of breaking into the content.

According to NTRU comparison tests on equivalent systems, a 263-bit NTRU key requires 10¹⁴ MIPS-years to break, can encrypt and decrypt 1124 blocks/sec, and can be created at 192 keys/sec. (A MIPS-year is the output of a 1-MIPS computer operating for one year.) These figures compare with a 1024-bit Reed-Solomon-algorithm key, which requires 10¹² MIPS-years to break, 22 blocks/sec, and 1 key/sec or a 168-bit elliptic-curve-cryptography key requiring 10¹² MIPS-years to break, 14 blocks/sec, and 42 keys/sec. Additionally, with the smaller memory and faster performance, the NTRU algorithm reduces system cost and battery consumption.

The Tumbler tool kit costs $5000. The algorithm is also available for wireless systems through F@stWTLS, an implementation of the Wireless Transport Layer Security Protocol.

NTRU Cryptosystems, 1-888-346-6878 or 1-617-948-9138, www.ntru.com/tech.learning.htm.

-by Nicholas Cravotta