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KEA and SKIPJACK declassified
Read all about it:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun1998/b06231998_bt316-98.html
I called the number at the bottom (NSA Public Affairs) to request a
copy of the specs and was told to call the InfoSec 800 number who then
told me to call NSA Public Affairs. Sigh, some things never change.
Dan.
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ENCRYPTION FORMULAS DECLASSIFIED
The Department of Defense today announced the decision by the National Security Agency to declassify both the Key Exchange Algorithm and
the SKIPJACK encryption algorithm used in the FORTEZZA(tm) personal computer card. FORTEZZA(tm) provides security at the desktop in
the Defense Message System and other DoD applications. This marks the first time that the NSA has declassified such information and made it
commercially available.
This declassification is an essential part of the Department of Defense's efforts to work with commercial industry in developing reasonably
priced computer protection products. This declassification decision will enable industry to develop software and smartcard based security
products, which are interoperable with FORTEZZA(tm). The availability of such products will enhance the protection of DoD's sensitive but
unclassified and critical non-mission communications.
The decision to release SKIPJACK (an 80 bit encryption algorithm that is not extensible to higher key lengths) and KEA (a 1024 bit key
exchange algorithm) is restricted to these particular algorithms, and does not apply to other classified NSA algorithms. The SKIPJACK and
KEA algorithms and their source codes have been declassified pursuant to Executive Order 12958.
Vendors interested in obtaining more information on this matter should contact the National Security Agency Public Affairs Office at
301-688-6524.