2048 Bit Encryption by British Teen

This one was sent in by JimBobJoe. Anyway, here is an article about a kid in the UK who wrote is own 2048 bit encryption software. I guess the US Govt won't have a problem with this, right? We didn't write it, a 17 year old kid did. More proof that 56bit encryption is plenty. Update Parkinson has spoken up and submitted a short reply to many of the comments appearing on these pages. Read on to see it.

The following is a reply written by P. B. Parkinson

Dear Self confessed nerds,

I feel I aught to set the record straight on a number of issues. Firstly: the allegation that I'm crap at math. This is just wrong: and although I got a B grade at GCSE (16yr old exam) maths, I've already got two A grades at what is supposed to be an exam for 18 year old university hopefuls, Pure mathematics and Further mathematics. This was misrepresented.

Secondly, I don't feel to happy about having the strength of my Product cussed. UBE 98 uses RC4x, which I have proven to be the same strength as RC4: actually ladies and gentlemen, (and please don't tell me to read Sheier, 'cos I have) the algorithm is (almost) identical to RC4, the only difference being the way the keys are setup and 'used' during encryption. if anyone is interested (hoping that this may appease some of you, I'll be putting a file up on my website from the 15th which will be enciphered with UBE98 and will contain a short message. I'm not offering any reward, just the 'chance' of publically humiliating me.