Another day, another cracked encryption standard.  This time, researchers at the University of Michigan have devised a way to undermine the ubiquitous RSA encryption technique used in everything from digital communications to copy protection.   Although the technique, which involves varying the voltage to the circuitry in which part of the encryption key is contained, is unlikely to result in remotely hacked RSA based systems, it does reduce confidence in the decades old RSA standard.

“The scientists found they could foil the security system by varying the voltage supply to the holder of the “private key,” which would be the consumer’s device in the case of copy protection and the retailer or bank in the case of Internet communication. It is highly unlikely that a hacker could use this approach on a large institution, the researchers say. These findings would be more likely to concern media companies and mobile device manufacturers, as well as those who use them.”

So remember, for every great encryption technique, there’s an even smarter person trying to crack it. And while this forces the development of better and more secure systems, we have to hope these lab developed cracking methods don’t fall into “the wrong hands“.