posted in Technology
Anthropic A.I. Model Finds Flaws in Tough-to-Crack Encryption Algorithms
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/us/politics/anthropic-ai-encryption-security-aes.html?unlocked_article_code=1.3lA.hS2s.VC67SqJMDuWf
www.nytimes.comAnthropic A.I. Model Finds Flaws in Tough-to-Crack Encryption Algorithms (Gift Article)Claude Mythos Preview discovered new attacks in testing against weakened cryptographic algorithms, which protect online financial transactions, private communications and more.As expected, this article is frustratingly devoid of detail.
The flaws identified do not concern a cryptographic standard currently in use today, which means that modern banking and communication systems are not subject to immediate potential intrusions from A.I. Instead, Anthropic’s technology cracked a watered-down version of an algorithm for Advanced Encryption Standard, or A.E.S., a ubiquitous protocol that safeguards web traffic, wireless networks, data storage and more.
So what does that mean, that it was unleashed at AES-ECB?
“Given that we are constantly underestimating the power and time of availability of future models, are we really comfortable that two years from now strong encryption won’t be threatened?” said Glenn S. Gerstell, the former general counsel at the National Security Agency.
“Mathematicians would tell you that it shouldn’t be possible given current computing powers to break strong encryption in any meaningful time,” added Mr. Gerstell, who helped write a report on cryptology in 2022. “But I don’t think the capabilities of future models in the medium term — before quantum computing or quantum-proof cryptography — should be dismissed as trivial in this context.”
What a load of horse hockey.
Replying to @UpperBroccoli@lemmy.blahaj.zone
Indeed. Using AES-ECB has been considered bad practice for over a decade. Modern alternatives such as AES-GCM or AES-CCM are readily available for most popular programming languages