Encryption

VvwhocaresvV · Post by **VvwhocaresvV** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 6:51 am

just wondering what it is what it does and what that mile long code in the preferences is?

Post by **bgannin** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:04 am

Messages are sent as plain text normally, encryption scrambles the content of the message [so as to be _much_ tougher to read] using cryptographic techniques and signatures for the parties, that being your 'fingerprint'. The long code is your uniquely generated fingerprint key, used for signing contents when encrypted.

VvwhocaresvV · Post by **VvwhocaresvV** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:39 am

alright normally i know computer language..but, can you explain that a bit better for me please?

Post by **bgannin** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:45 am

Normally when you send a message it's kind of like -

"Bob: how goes it?"

With encryption, your buddy gets your key first [that long text] and then receives something like -

"Bob: xdefrwer2341239481629879cx87e98sr7918234"

Thus your message traffic can't be read if intercepted somehow [without the key to decrypt it], insuring a modicum of privacy.

VvwhocaresvV · Post by **VvwhocaresvV** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:39 pm

so does that mean my buddies cant read it???

yelly · Post by **yelly** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 10:30 pm

they can, encryption is only used when your buddy's client supports it as well. basically what is happening is when you are chatting to a buddy using a client that doesn't support encryption, when you send "Bob: how goes it?", it is sent to him in plaintext (the word for an unencrypted message in crypto lingo), and he sees that. on the other hand, when Adium detects that the other client supports encryption, it will send "Bob: xdefrwer2341239481629879cx87e98sr7918234" and the client at the other end will turn it back into "Bob: how goes it?", so you and your buddy can talk, but anyone trying to intercept the message will just get gibberish, promising you privacy. in case this matters to you, OTR (the encryption software used by Adium) seems to use a variation of the PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encryption method, currently the strongest viable cypher (there is quantum cryptography and one-time-pad, but both of those are no good for this situation), despite this, it is breakable, so, if someone really really tried, they could read your messages, but it my take them several years to decipher your messages, even using the strongest computers around.
for more info about OTR, click here.
for more info about PGP, click here.
for more info about cryptography, click here.