Technology - Reuters

Notre Dame Math Whiz Cracks Certicom Code Contest

Wed Nov 6, 4:06 PM ET

By Susan Taylor

OTTAWA (Reuters) - And you thought you had tough math homework?

Consider the work that went into cracking a secret code developed by Toronto-based Certicom Corp. (Toronto:CIC.TO - news), which makes wireless encryption software.

It took the power of 10,000 computers running around the clock for 549 days, coupled with the brain power of a mathematician at Indiana's University of Notre Dame, to complete one of the world's largest single math computations.

Certicom had challenged scientists, mathematicians, cryptographers and hackers to try to break one of the encryption codes the firm uses to protect digital data.

The solution, rewarded with a $10,000 prize and even richer bragging rights, was reached at 12:56 p.m. on Oct. 15, said Notre Dame researcher and teacher Chris Monico.

"I stared at it in mild disbelief for a while," he said. "I wanted desperately to jump up and down, but the mathematician in me said 'You'd better double check'."

Monico's pleasure at breaking the code was matched by the contest's creator and Certicom founder, Scott Vanstone.

"Our technology is based on a very hard mathematical problem, so what we wanted to do is validate how difficult it really is," he told Reuters.

"When somebody asks have hackers attempted to break your system, we say of course, we in fact encourage it. Please go try. And here's the results."

Vanstone points out the massive computer power used to crack the code in this challenge would have broken the Enigma code, a cipher used by Germany during World War II, in a matter of seconds

What/ where from

value

relevance

date

Nov 6, 2002

My work and results are cutting edge

amount

$10, 000

I can afford it

Power of comp

Enigma code, in a matter of seconds

I better be hyper good. I am.

duration

10,000 around clock for 549 days

I better be hyper good. I am.

founder

Certicom founder, Scott Vanstone

Scientist, not vc or manager

breaker

Notre Dame researcher and teacher Chris Monico

Mathematician for fun, challenge, bragging rights, also money

My estimate