Doubled-up security??

I've got 3 different encryption programs on my computer.

If I encrypt a file using one program

then encrypt the encrypted file again using another program

then encrypt it again using a third program


will it make it three time harder for someone to hack into?

Livewire

Livewire <> wrote:

> I've got 3 different encryption programs on my computer.
>
> If I encrypt a file using one program
>
> then encrypt the encrypted file again using another program
>
> then encrypt it again using a third program
>
>
> will it make it three time harder for someone to hack into?

Depends totally on what encryption algorithms you use, and how good the
passwords are.

With a good algorithm and a good long passphrase a single encryption
will be sufficient - if it takes longer than the future existence of
the universe to crack the first encryption by brute force, then
additional encryptions are a bit over the top


Juergen Nieveler
--
Any ship can be a minesweeper... once.

Juergen Nieveler

Livewire wrote:
>
> I've got 3 different encryption programs on my computer.
>
> If I encrypt a file using one program
>
> then encrypt the encrypted file again using another program
>
> then encrypt it again using a third program
>
>
> will it make it three time harder for someone to hack into?
>
>
Also be warned about corrupting your file. If you accidentally try and
de-crypt your file with the wrong order of programs your could rapidly
find yourself trying to re-de-encrypt your file and well... have fun
with that.

Sh4d03

sh4d03

Livewire skrev:
>
> I've got 3 different encryption programs on my computer.
>
> If I encrypt a file using one program
>
> then encrypt the encrypted file again using another program
>
> then encrypt it again using a third program
>
>
> will it make it three time harder for someone to hack into?
>
>
God GUD!!! If you erase the file, no one at all will break into!

--
Robban Stenkvist
http://w1.853.comhem.se/~u85329080/
http://robsten.blogspot.com/

Robsten

In article <zhzCd.13026$>,
says...
> Livewire skrev:
> >
> > I've got 3 different encryption programs on my computer.
> >
> > If I encrypt a file using one program
> >
> > then encrypt the encrypted file again using another program
> >
> > then encrypt it again using a third program
> >
> >
> > will it make it three time harder for someone to hack into?
> >
> >
> God GUD!!! If you erase the file, no one at all will break into!
>
>
Well, maybe then I'd get three different file shredders and ask whether
using each of them might be better than just one!!


Not that I'm paranoid or anything . . .

Livewire

Livewire skrev:
>
> Not that I'm paranoid or anything . . .

Of course not, just normally security. You have the document of the holy
graal on your disc, better to contact Dan Brown.
--
Robban Stenkvist
http://w1.853.comhem.se/~u85329080/
http://robsten.blogspot.com/

Robsten

Robsten skrev:
> Livewire skrev:
>
>>
>> Not that I'm paranoid or anything . . .
>
>
> Of course not, just normally security. You have the document of the holy
> graal on your disc, better to contact Dan Brown.

Myself? I am too paranoid to use Limewire!

--
Robban Stenkvist
http://w1.853.comhem.se/~u85329080/
http://robsten.blogspot.com/

Robsten

Why not just use one algorithm, 3 times ... wait a minute

"Livewire" <> wrote in message
news: ...
>
>
> I've got 3 different encryption programs on my computer.
>
> If I encrypt a file using one program
>
> then encrypt the encrypted file again using another program
>
> then encrypt it again using a third program
>
>
> will it make it three time harder for someone to hack into?
>
>

bowgus

In article <>,
Livewire <> wrote:
>
>
>I've got 3 different encryption programs on my computer.
>
>If I encrypt a file using one program
>
>then encrypt the encrypted file again using another program
>
>then encrypt it again using a third program
>
>
>will it make it three time harder for someone to hack into?
>
>


Assuming there are no cross dependencies in the algorithms (and
that the passwords are sufficiently strong and independent) then
sequentially encrypting something with two algorithms of
equivalent strength does indeed make it twice as difficult for
the adversary to decrypt.

However, lest you become too excited about this, note that by
doubling the difficulty you have only added one bit to the
"effective" encryption. That is, if each algorithm was 256-bit
then their use together is equivalent to 257 bits.

Not so impressive when put that way, eh?

RTegards,

nemo outis

If a key length were say 56 bits, and an algorithm was applied say 3 times,
then effective key length would be 168 bits.

<nemo (nemo outis)> wrote in message
news:CGHCd.699611$nl.49910@pd7tw3no...
> In article <>,
> Livewire <> wrote:
> >
> >
> >I've got 3 different encryption programs on my computer.
> >
> >If I encrypt a file using one program
> >
> >then encrypt the encrypted file again using another program
> >
> >then encrypt it again using a third program
> >
> >
> >will it make it three time harder for someone to hack into?
> >
> >
>
>
> Assuming there are no cross dependencies in the algorithms (and
> that the passwords are sufficiently strong and independent) then
> sequentially encrypting something with two algorithms of
> equivalent strength does indeed make it twice as difficult for
> the adversary to decrypt.
>
> However, lest you become too excited about this, note that by
> doubling the difficulty you have only added one bit to the
> "effective" encryption. That is, if each algorithm was 256-bit
> then their use together is equivalent to 257 bits.
>
> Not so impressive when put that way, eh?
>
> RTegards,
>

bowgus