Replies (2)

• @usernamesAreTricky@lemmy.ml 2026-10-21 03:44

  Uh roommate must have predicted the future because this is about a private key for a certificate authority using the number “4” as their whole private key. As well as a couple other low digit numbers arstechnica.com/…/the-internet-goes-on-high-alert…

  Open ##5281282

• @TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 2026-10-21 03:50

  I gotcha bud. It’s a riff on the olive meme. knowyourmeme.com/…/hungry-but-too-tired-to-cook-t… 256 bit and 512 bit encryption are somewhat common. A 256 bit private key is 64 characters long (I’m simplifying this, don’t @ me about it being hex). A 512 bit private key is twice as long. That long string of random characters is what gives this type of encryption its power. It’s essentially unguessable, even with a computer and a lot of time. Using “4” as your private key would significantly undermine security. Hackers can’t check every possible option for a 512 bit key, but they can certainly (and trivially) try simple numbers padded by 0’s, like our “4” private key. You’ve taken a strong and proven system and made it trivially weak. That’s the joke. It’s not that funny, but that’s what you’re missing. Hope that helps.

  Open ##5281566