RSA & Compaq Develop New Wireless Crypto Technology

RSA Security has teamed up with Compaq to develop a high-speed cryptographic wireless technology
known as Multiprime. Both firms say they hold joint patents on the system, which can move
encrypted data in real time to and from mobile devices, at speeds around twice as fast as was previously possible.

The problem with cryptographic technologies operating in real time
to and from mobile devices is that it places a heavy load on the
(typically) RISC (reduced instruction set computing) processor and
embedded firmware driving the mobile device.

RSA Security and Compaq say they have worked around this problem,
allowing wireless and embedded device manufacturers the breakthrough
they need to offer high-speed performance and enhanced security on
small footprint devices such as mobile phones, pocket PCs and personal
digital assistants (PDAs).

Both firms say they intend to incorporate the MultiPrime encryption
technology into their respective products, and will work closely
together on a series of joint technology and marketing initiatives
aimed at rolling out the technology to third party firms.

The RSA Security algorithm has traditionally used two prime numbers to
form a large, unbreakable key.

The MultiPrime technology, however, which was developed and patented
by Compaq, uses three or more prime numbers, Chinese Remainder
Theorem, and parallelism to provide higher performance through smaller
mathematical operations.

As a result, RSA Security says, wireless device users don't have to
choose between performance and security. For the first time, they have
access to both critical functions in a single device.

Scott Schnell, senior vice president with RSA Security, said the firm
has received an exclusive license to provide MultiPrime in
cryptographic software development kits.

"With MultiPrime technology, we hope to help speed the adoption of
wireless solutions on a large scale," he said, adding that, by
developing a strong technology relationship with Compaq, the company
has found a remarkable method for enabling maximum security and
performance.

RSA Security plans to incorporate MultiPrime across its entire RSA
BSsafe product line, and intends to first introduce MultiPrime in its
implementation of the Wireless Transport Security Protocol WTLS-C,
which is expected to be released later this year.

This protocol, the firm says, is designed to enable developers to more
quickly and easily build security into WAP (Wireless Application
Protocol)-enabled products and applications.

Compaq, meanwhile, says it plans to incorporate MultiPrime in its
specialized hardware security products later this (current) second
quarter year.

Reported by Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com.