Xref: utzoo comp.compression:69 sci.crypt:4375
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!athena.cs.uga.edu!is
From: is@athena.cs.uga.edu (Bob Stearns)
Newsgroups: comp.compression,sci.crypt
Subject: Security of PKZIP's encryption
Message-ID: <1991Mar26.150049.20882@athena.cs.uga.edu>
Date: 26 Mar 91 15:00:49 GMT
Sender: is@athena.cs.uga.edu (Bob Stearns)
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens
Lines: 9

While I commonly recommend PKZIP (tm) for saving space on a hard disk, I have
been asked how strong its encryption (-spassword) option is. I have no way of
testing this and wonder if anyone out there in net land has investigated it.
If you have investigated the actual code and can explain the general algorithm
I can form my own opinion of its strength. If you have investigated by attempts
to crack it and have (succeeded|failed), explanation of your techniques and
results would assist. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Either
E-mail or net replies are acceptable. I will summarize if sufficient interest
appears either as "me too" or information replies to this message.