How Long to Crack an 'Encrypted' HD?

brainburger asks: "In the UK, Tony Blair has recently lost a parliametary vote to allow the police to hold terrorist suspects for 90 days without trial. One of the justifications the police gave for the extension from 14 days to 90 days was that they need the extra 76 days to decrypt the computer hard-drives of suspects. This has been seen by some as the only compelling reason to allow 90 days. The time-limit has been extended to 28 days instead, but Tony Blair insists 90 days is required. Are there really any encryption systems that cannot be cracked in 28 days, but which can be cracked in 90? Aside from the not-much-discussed issue that the police can no longer interrogate a suspect after they are charged, I suspect the police meant unencrypted machines. What do you think?"

Before you answer

[denissmith]

But remember the requirement - 90 days for the POLICE to crack the encryption- I don't know why they don't just make it 'indefinite detention'.

Whatever it is...

[Slashdiddly]

it's longer than the suspect's skull during interrogation

No more AES

[Smarty2120]

I'd better not use AES to encrypt my hard drive or I'd guess they can hold me without charge until the sun burns out.

Simple answer

[__aamcgs2220]

If you want an unreadable hard drive, you can forget about blowfish, twofish, MD5, SHA, and every other cryptographic solution. There is only one way to do it and one number to remember: 1.21 gigawatts.

The answer is....

[The Ape With No Name]

f439f4af0cd24d0d07144ec2f6853d2f

Re:Simple answer

[numbski]

But the only way you could get that kind of power is with a bolt of lightning! Unfortunately, one never knows where or when a bolt of lightning might strike. :\

Better question?

[dcapel]

How long does it take the police to figure out that my drive is not corrupted, it just isn't running Windows.

They don't need much time at CTU!

[weharc]

Come on, I've seen them decrypt files and hard drives in a matter of minutes on 24. What are the pommy police up to, maybe they need to start watching it for tips.

Re:Decrypt ~and~ analyze

[needacoolnickname]

If they didn't stop to look at all the naked pictures I am sure they could get through it much quicker.

Re:Are they insane?!

[iamdrscience]

No, no, terrorists are just trying to kill us because they're evil, there's no reason they do it, it's just their evil muslim way. Didn't you get the memo?

Re:They don't need much time at CTU!

[iamdrscience]

Come on, I've seen them decrypt files and hard drives in a matter of minutes on 24. What are the pommy police up to, maybe they need to start watching it for tips

Yeah, that technology is only available in America. They don't have that type of tech in the UK, obviously.

Re:Are they insane?!

[UserGoogol]

You assume that politics and insanity are distinct. :)

DMCA?

[killtherat]

So they are attempting to crack encryption of a device that contain copyright'ed material (if this guy saved his email, then anything he wrote should be automatically copyrighted). Isn't this a violation of the DMCA?
I know I'm probably missing some technicality, but it's a fun thought argument.

How long?

[kramthegram]

Hell, with a good hammer it only takes one swing! ... What's everybody looking at me for?

Combined methods are the best solution

[Ingolfke]

If you need complete security from all government agencies (or other parties) you need to combine a strong encryption system like ROT13 with a text-based cyphering system like l33t sp34k. Continued study into lossy 1-bit compression, which effectively reduces and entire file to a single bit, could also be used to thwart the unauthorized individuals from gaining access to your data. Of course, you'd have to accept a little data loss if you chose to compress your encrypted files.

I am currently working on the next-gen encryption system that will handle binary files better than ROT13 (yes, I know it's hard to believe). This new system will use the same encryption concepts on the entire WORD. I call this system ROTl33tn00b, or R0t3n for short. When I have my code (pure VB6) finished I will release it to the community under GNU/GPL.

Re:Better question?

[Anonymous Coward]

How long does it take the police to figure out that my drive is not corrupted, it just IS running Windows

Re:Whatever it is...

[FLEB]

It's a social engineering hack of sorts, albeit the "brute force" method.

The Police...

[jd]

I dunno - Sting might be really good at maths.

Re:Pardon the obvious...

[Petrushka]

If I had mod points I'd mod you off-topic. That's not a comment on you, it's a comment on what the world is becoming.

Re:Encryption key? What encryption key?

[Dachannien]

Tony Blair: Fezzik, tear his arms off.
lorcha: Oh, you mean this encryption key.

Re:Before you answer

[DarkEdgeX]

I've seen CSI, I know it really only takes a few minutes to decrypt a criminals hard drive.

Re:Simple answer

[martin-boundary]

Unfortunately, one never knows where or when a bolt of lightning might strike. :\

I know exactly what you mean. I keep driving into walls at exactly 88 mph precisely because of this problem. I've already destroyed 15 Deloreans that way.

Re:The Police...

[sbryant]

I doubt it - he was an English teacher, not a maths teacher.

-- Steve

Re:Before you answer

[Nept]

Of all the democratic countries in the world we're

Even in a democratic country, fawn-coloured suits should be illegal.