Put your idle CPU time to work by joining one of the largest internet super computers ever assembled!

Rather than having your computer waste it's CPU time on a silly Dilbert  screen saver, you could be helping make the world a better and safer place. Over 300,000 computer enthusiasts just like yourself are already participating.

RSA Labs, is currently sponsoring an RC5-64 encryption challenge. RC5 is an algorithm that is used to  encrypt messages to protect confidential information over the internet.  If you  have purchased merchandise online at retailers such as Amazon or Eddie Bauer, then you have used RC5 technology.   RC5 makes your purchase secure, by not  allowing others to see your credit card information.  RC5 is very effective in  this manner.  However, as you may have guessed it is possible to "decrypt" or "crack" this technology. That is what the RC5 challenge is all  about.

There are a couple of goals behind the RC5 contest.   First of all RSA is out to prove how secure their technology is.   If it takes 300,000 hackers 4 or more years to break the code, then you can be reasonable sure that your online  purchases are safe.   Another and perhaps the most important goal of the distributed.net effort is to show that internet users can join together to achieve a larger than life  goal.

While  there are many participants who joined the contest for the reasons stated above,  most participants, myself included are participating for the fun of it. I am a computer junky AND a statistics junky which make this contest very enjoyable. Take a look at the RC5-64:  Project Bovine FAQ for more information about the project and  contest.

Distributed.net has setup a client/server packet disbursement system, whereby you as the client download "work units" from one of several servers across the world. Using free software available at the download site, your computer then searches the work units for the "secret key".   If your computer finds the secret key, you could win $1000 or even $2000. While  the prize money is a nice incentive, the real reward is being able to meet new people and participate in a worthy cause. 

While it is not required, it is best to join a team.  This way all the keys you crunch will help your team move up in the  standings. Team standings are updated daily, and you are ranked by the number of key blocks you submit.  You do not have to have a dedicated internet  connection.   Simply download a day or two worth of key blocks and when your computer is done cracking, you dial up your connection and send your work to the keyserver.  It's that easy!

The  RC5-64 Project has been in existence since late 1997, as of 2/22/02, the  Distributed.net project had checked only 70.274% of the possible keys.   Take a  look here for current project statistics.   It is a big undertaking, so your participation is  welcome.