Ask HN: What would you do if you cracked RSA encryption?

#1

Post by bbkane » Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 3:01 PM UTC

I was daydreaming about this the other day- there are alternatives to RSA, but I still think it underpins most Internet security. What would you do if you could economically crack it?

Sell the tech to a government? Write a paper? Keep it to yourself? Buy/sell a lot of stock? I don't know, so I figured it'd be fun to ask.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you cracked RSA encryption?

#2

Post by micahdeath » Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 3:09 PM UTC

Brag and make tools that use it. =P (I wouldn't distribute anything.)

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you cracked RSA encryption?

#3

Post by mikewarot » Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 3:32 PM UTC

Spend some of Satoshi's wallet.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you cracked RSA encryption?

#4

Post by JohnFen » Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 4:51 PM UTC

I'd publish all of the details and example code. I think that's literally the only way to mitigate the problems with RSA being cracked. After all, if I can do it, others can as well.

I'd publish it anonymously, though, in an attempt to prevent having to spend a lot of time discussing it with others (particularly the press).