Patch: FAQ

Werner Koch wk@gnupg.org
Wed, 10 May 2000 16:24:13 +0200


On Wed, 10 May 2000, Klaus Singvogel wrote:


> use the (patented) idea algorithmen as cipher algorithmen too (and
> not 3des). Thats what I correct in the FAQ.
If you look at the PGP 2 data formats (e.g. rfc1991) you will notice that there is indeed an algorithm indetifier and therefore it is possible to replace IDEA by 3DES (or better CAST5 which uses the same keysize and can be done very easily). Please read the GPL before _distributing_ GnuPG together with a module which implements a patented algorithm; doing so might vilolate the GPL.
> If I look into the source-code I see that the error comes from the
> idea decryption. I currently investigate this. My current assumption
> is, that GnuPG does idea encryption in ECB mode, but pgp 2.x does
> decryption in CBC mode. But I'm not sure, since I don't understand
Nope. The cipher modules are the low level encryption. The chaining is done in cipher/cipher.c and the same for all symmetric ciphers. Werner -- Werner Koch OpenPGP key 621CC013 OpenIT GmbH tel +49 211 239577-0 Birkenstr. 12 email wk@OpenIT.de D-40233 Duesseldorf http://www.OpenIT.de