Rezrov car.

April 28, 2008 9:32 AM

"The KeeLoq [Wikipedia] encryption algorithm is widely used for security relevant applications in the form of passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponders for physical access control systems, e.g., for garage door opening or building access. We present the first successful DPA (Differential Power Analysis) attacks on numerous commercially available products employing KeeLoq." The paper.
posted by Wolfdog (6 comments total)

God I love academia sometimes.

Spoken in a German accent:

"Hello. Today we are going to present our techniques for acquiring keys for KeeLoq based security systems."

"And what are the practical consequences of this?"

"Well, Microchip Technology is going to have to update their algorithm."

"No, I mean, what could someone do with this knowledge?"

"Oh, steal cars and break into buildings."

"And you received government funding in order to develop this?"

"Yah."

Awkward silence.
posted by Alex404 at 10:01 AM on April 28, 2008

I think I'd rather have this sort of thing done by government-employed academic cryptanalysts who publish their findings, than blackhats working for the Russian mafia, which seems to be the most likely alternative.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:06 AM on April 28, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Alex404 writes "'And you received government funding in order to develop this?'

"'Yah.'"

Yeah, I'm completely OK with this being government-funded research. I prefer it to the DMCA forbidding researchers from pointing out flaws in copy protection schemes.
posted by mullingitover at 10:37 AM on April 28, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

than blackhats working for the Russian mafia, which seems to be the most likely alternative.

Blackhats don't publish.
posted by smackfu at 11:24 AM on April 28, 2008

Extra bonus points for the reference in the page title.
posted by eriko at 12:53 PM on April 28, 2008

Or being forbidden to research voting machines ...
posted by aldus_manutius at 1:25 PM on April 29, 2008