The project RC5

This project coordinates the experiment to decrypt a message that was coded with the RC5 procedure at 72 bits of key length. To this must systematical all 2⁷² keys may tested. One doesn't know on principle while trying out all these keys to start with whether one decrypted the message correctly since every key leads to some decoded message (that then but in general only sign salad contains). Therefore, the beginning of the secret message is published ("The unknown message is:").

The client matches the resulted decoded text according to every deciphering experiment whether the beginning matches with the known piece of the secret message. This competition is written the RSA Security as a part of a whole series of competitions for cracking of a RC5 coding. This company wants to show in this way that the same coding with higher bit lengths can't be decrypted.

What does that have to do with X-Force?

In fact nothing. However, I have already participated in this project since longer time. I come to this project through Mazet and its home page http://www.dev2k.de.

Statistic

The project management distributed.net offers online-statistics on their own sites for everybody. Here are a few DSSD¹⁾ specific links:

Participance

If you would like to say thank you for X-Force: Fight For Destiny, you can do that if you help us during key look-up. Why? You investe only few minutes for installation and help through durable us! Advice: The participation is only possible if you have an Internet connection.

RC5 for X-Force (RC5-package for Windows, ZIP-file ca. 250kb)

If you should use another operating system as "Windows", this is no problem - the client is available for many platforms directly in the case of distributed.net to the download. In this case, your questions are gladly answered in the forum.

Installation of the client

Download the RC5-package for X-Force and unpack the two files into any file folder (for logical reasons to an empty, a couple of files are created).
Start the file "dnetc.exe" (z.B. in the Windows-Explorer through double-click onto the file).
With the first start of the clients establishes automatically a connection to the key server and the to edit packages are downloaded. After this the key look-up begins immediately. As soon as the packages are worked off, a connection to the key server will be established and the packages are mailed out. Simultaneous new ones for editing are to be downloaded.
With that we would be nearly be ready, with that you support us. However, I want to give you with the following things some tips.
Cause of a new start of your PC, you should add the DNETC-Client to the autostart of Windows. For that you can drag the file "dnetc.exe" with the right mouse button via Drag&Drop in the start menu and create a link. The autostart file folder you find under Start|Programms\Autostart.
With that the DNETC-Client starts automatically with every start of the PC. If required, you still can set up the attitude in the qualities of the connection "run" on "minimized". In this way, the client disappears automatically in the systemtray (in addition to the clock on the lower right) as a cow head. You achieve the same thing if you the client by hand minimize/reduce.

Frequently asked questions and answers

How long will the project take?

That is pure luck. It can run 5 years or 5 months or can already be ended tomorrow. It is to end as soon as the fitting key became found. For arrangement: The predecessor project RC5-64, where we already participated, lasted in total more than 4 years (of which we nonetheless only take part the last year - unfortunately).

What is the sense of the project?

We don't search here for cancer or a medicament against Aids. This contest bases on no �sanctify� aim, but is used alone for the joy of the evaluation and the hunt to other teams. Basically one gaudie, with that one only the garbage idle cycles must invest. Oh yes, that 1000$ were pronounced for the winner and a certain amount to a welfare employed institution out jump, should already mention here I still.

Can I continue to work while "crunching"?

Yes, the client only takes the idle cycles of your operating system. You only give us the computing time, which is not used and only consumes power. If you do anything on the PC that takes computing power, the client will make free this power to your work. You don't recognize any reduce of the performance. Although the client preserves resources.

I've got no Internet connection, can I help you nevertheless?

Yes, one can download large masses of data (<300kb) at one piece and copy them by using a floppy disk to the wanted computer. For one data package of 300kb a P4-2 GHz needs a month to crunch it. After that you can take the ready crunched data via floppy disk to a computer that can send this data. If you have such a computer, I can do this work for you (get data package and mail it out later). An E-Mail address you need.

Are there any minimum requirements?

No, however in this way at all something comes out you should consider the following key data: below a Pentium II 300 MHz who needs more than 10 h/day runs should not crunch. The mass of keys below this boundary recommended by me is almost ridiculous. What one creates with such an old computer in a month, in a overcome manner a current P4-2.5 GHz in congenial 2-3 days (coarsly estimated). But you must in the final analysis know that herself, participate keep up you with every PC. We are pleased of course with every block which benefits our team.

1) Deutscher Schlüsselsuchdienst