Close
  • Latest News
  • Cybersecurity
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Mobile
  • Networking
  • Storage
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Menu
eWEEK.com
Search
eWEEK.com
  • Latest News
  • Cybersecurity
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Mobile
  • Networking
  • Storage
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Microsoft Scraps Old Encryption in New Code

    By
    PAUL F. ROBERTS
    -
    September 15, 2005
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Microsoft is banning certain cryptographic functions from new computer code, citing increasingly sophisticated attacks that make them less secure, according to a company executive.

      The Redmond, Wash., software company instituted a new policy for all developers that bans functions using the DES, MD4, MD5 and, in some cases, the SHA1 encryption algorithm, which is becoming “creaky at the edges,” said Michael Howard, senior security program manager at the company, Howard said.

      MD4 and MD5 are instances of the Message Digest algorithm that was developed at MIT in the early 1990s and uses a cryptographic hash function to verify the integrity of data.

      The algorithms are used to create digital signatures and check the integrity of information passed within Microsoft Corp.s products.

      DES (Data Encryption Standard) is a cipher that is used to encrypt information that is used in many networking protocols.

      All three algorithms show signs of “extreme weakness” and have been banned, Howard said.

      Microsoft is recommending using the Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA)256 encryption algorithm and AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) cipher instead, he said.

      The change is part of a semi-yearly update to Microsofts Secure Development Lifecycle policies by engineers within Microsofts Security Business & Technology Unit.

      /zimages/5/28571.gifTo read more about the importance of encryption, click here.

      Developers who use one of the banned cryptographic functions in new code will have it flagged by automated code scanning tools and will be asked to update the function to something more secure, Howard said.

      Eventually, the company will also remove vulnerable cryptographic functions from older code, though that will take longer, he said.

      “Threats are constantly evolving, so its important to stay one step ahead,” he said.

      “Its about time,” added Bruce Schneier of Counterpane Security Inc.

      Microsoft should have ended use of DES, MD4 and MD5 “years ago,” and is only being prudent in doing so now, Schneier said.

      However, the companys “case by case” approach to banning SHA1 is more aggressive, considering that theoretical attacks on that algorithm only appeared in February, Schneier said.

      The theoretical attacks on SHA0 and SHA1 were developed by Chinese researchers and have some experts predicting that those algorithms will soon be considered too vulnerable to rely on.

      The NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) has scheduled a workshop in October to discuss alternatives to SHA1.

      Using vulnerable encryption algorithms could expose sensitive data in Microsoft systems. But attacks on those algorithms are still unlikely, given other, easier to exploit holes in the software, Schneier said.

      “Theres just so much thats worse,” he said of the other security holes.

      /zimages/5/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest security news, reviews and analysis. And for insights on security coverage around the Web, take a look at eWEEK.com Security Center Editor Larry Seltzers Weblog.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      CHRIS PREIMESBERGER - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

      CHRIS PREIMESBERGER - December 1, 2020 0
      Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

      EWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
      Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      How NVIDIA A100 Station Brings Data Center...

      ZEUS KERRAVALA - November 18, 2020 0
      There’s little debate that graphics processor unit manufacturer NVIDIA is the de facto standard when it comes to providing silicon to power machine learning...
      Read more
      Apple

      Why iPhone 12 Pro Makes Sense for...

      WAYNE RASH - November 26, 2020 0
      If you’ve been watching the Apple commercials for the past three weeks, you already know what the company thinks will happen if you buy...
      Read more
      eWeek


      Contact Us | About | Sitemap

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      Terms of Service | Privacy Notice | Advertise | California - Do Not Sell My Info

      © 2020 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×