Group use of keys

[Christopher C. Stacy]

   Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2004 13:16:25 -0500 (EST)
   From: "Atom 'Smasher'" <atom at suspicious.org>

   of course, 90% of the root passwords that people give me would fall to a 
   dictionary attack within hours. at least i only have 1 client who still 
   uses telnet over the public internet (he logs in as admin and su's to 
   root! he learned unix in the US military!).

That's probably because he was on a completely trusted network,
where the network, the shielded building it's in, every device,
and every person, is cleared to handle classified material.
That doesn't mean that it wouldn't be a good idea to use
encryption anyway, but it's unlikely that the situation
is as un-secured as you might imagine.  Usually in order 
to break into these networks network, first you have to get 
past several physical barriers, each of which involces guards 
armed with machine guns.  Prime numbers will be the least
of your concerns.