Long-distance comms and encryption

johndallman · 08-09-2012, 06:15 AM

TL10 encryption is really good, but if a communication session needs a round or two of handshaking to set up keys, that looks like a problem at distances of light-minutes.

So I suspect one-time pads are still in use by navies, Solar Express, and others who need such long-distance communications. This may also be a weakness of the dodgier bits of the Trojan Mafia, since having your OTP distribution done by criminals has obvious problems: it looks as if Starhaven would protect its reputation by doing the job properly.

jeff_wilson · 08-10-2012, 05:54 AM

The more complex key exchange handshake is used here and now for performance reasons; inter-planet comms have such horrible latency anyway that it's not worth doing there. Once established, the asymmetric key pairs are sufficient with no need to further negotiate symmetric session keys.

The establishment part is technically easy and only requires a single exchange, provided you're establishing contact with who you think you are. I'm not sure how Starhaven could help with that authentication; the more criminal activity that depends on trust in them, the more law enforcement effort will be devoted to subverting them, and the riskier trusting them becomes.

Heck, the more of any activity!

08-09-2012, 06:15 AM	#1
johndallman Night Watchman Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cambridge, UK	Long-distance comms and encryption TL10 encryption is really good, but if a communication session needs a round or two of handshaking to set up keys, that looks like a problem at distances of light-minutes. So I suspect one-time pads are still in use by navies, Solar Express, and others who need such long-distance communications. This may also be a weakness of the dodgier bits of the Trojan Mafia, since having your OTP distribution done by criminals has obvious problems: it looks as if Starhaven would protect its reputation by doing the job properly.

08-10-2012, 05:54 AM	#2
jeff_wilson Computer Scientist Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas	Re: Long-distance comms and encryption The more complex key exchange handshake is used here and now for performance reasons; inter-planet comms have such horrible latency anyway that it's not worth doing there. Once established, the asymmetric key pairs are sufficient with no need to further negotiate symmetric session keys. The establishment part is technically easy and only requires a single exchange, provided you're establishing contact with who you think you are. I'm not sure how Starhaven could help with that authentication; the more criminal activity that depends on trust in them, the more law enforcement effort will be devoted to subverting them, and the riskier trusting them becomes. Heck, the more of any activity! __________________ . Reposed playtest leader. The Campaigns of William Stoddard