Brute Force: Cracking the Data Encryption Standard

Interhack announces the completion of Matt Curtin's new book, Brute Force: Cracking the Data Encryption Standard. This book is the story of the formation of the world's most widely-used system to protect sensitive information and how a group of independent cryptographers, civil libertarians, and hobbyists managed to demonstrate the system's weakness in June of 1997, even as the U.S. Congress debated the government's control over cryptography.

As one of the coordinators of the DESCHALL project that broke a secret message encrypted with what was then the government standard, Curtin presents a unique insider view of how the project came together and what happened behind the scenes to demonstrate the weakness of the standard and ultimately to usher in the age of unrestricted cryptography.

With a Foreword by John Gilmore of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Brute Force is a story of cryptography, distributed computing, and most importantly, of people protecting themselves in the digital age.

Brute Force is generally available in bookstores everywhere and online at Amazon.com.

Errata for the book can be found on Curtin's personal Web site at ergo-sum.us.

Appearances and Signings

Booksignings and talks about the material are being given around the country.

February 6, 2007, 3:00-3:30 p.m. (sold out, more on the way)
February 8, 2007, 3:00-3:30 p.m.

RSA Conference, San Francisco. (Signing at conference bookstore.)

November 17, 2006, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Barnes & Noble, The Ohio State University, South Campus Gateway, 1598 N High St Columbus, OH 43201

March 13, 2006

Rotary Club of Columbus, Hyatt Regency Columbus, 350 N High St

February 15, 2006, 1:30 p.m.

RSA Conference, San Jose. (Signing at conference bookstore.)

February 11, 2006

Barnes & Noble, 8374 S. Willow St., Lone Tree, CO 80124

November 10, 2005

Central Ohio Chapter of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)

June 11, 2005

Lennox Barnes & Noble, Columbus.

April 18, 2005

Guest lecture for security course at The Ohio State University, Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

April 5, 2005

itWORKS.OHIO Conference, Columbus. (Lecture only.)

March 15, 2005

Greater Dayton IT Alliance Security Seminar, Dayton, Ohio. (Lecture only.)

February 15, 2005

RSA Conference, San Francisco. (Signing at conference bookstore, Digital Guru.)

About Interhack

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Interhack is a professional services firm with practice areas in forensic computing, information assurance, and management of information technology infrastructure. Known for its forward-thinking technical reports and elite consulting teams, Interhack seeks to close the gap between the possible and the sustainable. Interhack can be found online at web.interhack.com.