Re: MSDOS-Based Compilable Code for RSA / Other Public-Key Scheme

Hi John E. Hadstate,

1. Regarding large keys:
==================
    Thanks for the advice. I do recall having read somewhere
about using a symmetric system for the actual encryption,
as large public-private key pair is time consuming.

2. Regarding a cryptographic hash:
==========================
    Are you by any chance familiar with Windows-based utilities
for generating file checksums, such as FSUM v2.51 for example?
    On the other hand, have you ever worked with MD5.EXE from the
DOS-based PGP installation ?

I don't know if you noticed, but:
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(a) MD5.EXE is no good for large files (probably 100mb or above),
     as it generated IDENTICAL hashes for DIFFERENT files;
(b) An MSDOS-based MD5 maker (e.g., MD5.EXE) and a
     Windows-based MD5 maker (e.g. FSUM v2.51) will consistently
     generate DIFFERENT hashes for IDENTICAL files - even when
     those files check out, in terms of authenticity, in and of
themselves.

Now, obviously, (2)(b) is something I can live with, assuming that each
type of utillity uses different ways to generate a hash.
Received on Mon Oct 17 20:48:25 2005