Python-RSA is a pure-Python RSA implementation. It supportsencryption and decryption, signing and verifying signatures, and keygeneration according to PKCS#1 version 1.5. It can be used as a Pythonlibrary as well as on the commandline. The code was mostly written bySybren A. Stüvel.
Documentation can be found at the Python-RSA homepage. For all changes, check the changelog.
Download and install using:
pip install rsa
or download it from the Python Package Index.
The source code is maintained at GitHub and islicensed under the Apache License, version 2.0
Security
Because of how Python internally stores numbers, it is very hard (if not impossible) to make a pure-Python program secure against timing attacks. This library is no exception, so use it with care. See https://securitypitfalls.wordpress.com/2018/08/03/constant-time-compare-in-python/ for more info.
Setup of Development Environment
python3 -m venv .venv. ./.venv/bin/activatepip install poetrypoetry install
Publishing a New Release
Since this project is considered critical on the Python Package Index,two-factor authentication is required. For uploading packages to PyPi, an APIkey is required; username+password will not work.
First, generate an API token at https://pypi.org/manage/account/token/. Then,use this token when publishing instead of your username and password.
As username, use __token__.As password, use the token itself, including the pypi- prefix.
See https://pypi.org/help/#apitoken for help using API tokens to publish. Thisis what I have in ~/.pypirc:
[distutils]index-servers = rsa# Use `twine upload -r rsa` to upload with this token.[rsa] repository = https://upload.pypi.org/legacy/ username = __token__ password = pypi-token
. ./.venv/bin/activatepip install twinepoetry buildtwine check dist/rsa-4.9.tar.gz dist/rsa-4.9-*.whltwine upload -r rsa dist/rsa-4.9.tar.gz dist/rsa-4.9-*.whl
The pip install twine is necessary as Python-RSA requires Python >= 3.6, andTwine requires at least version 3.7. This means Poetry refuses to add it asdependency.
FAQs
RSA encryption is only secure if no one can discover the prime numbers p and q from their product n. However, if the prime numbers are too close to each other or are not random and big enough, attackers can factor them, and then it takes little to expose the private key.
Why is RSA hard to crack? ›
The public and private key are created with two numbers, one of which is a product of two large prime numbers. Both use the same two prime numbers to compute their value. RSA keys tend to be 1024 or 2048 bits in length, making them extremely difficult to factorize, though 1024 bit keys are believed to breakable soon.
Is RSA 2048 still secure? ›
According to the recommendation of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the smallest RSA key size that can be considered secure is 2,048 bits. This means approximately 600 digits, but in many cases larger keys of 3,072 or 4,096 bits are also used.
Has anyone cracked RSA? ›
Quantum computing (QC) has become a reality. We broke the RSA -2048 key. Ron Rivest is a dear friend, but that was needed to advance. The QC version used here has simultaneous multiple-states logic (following 'all states at once'), with more than a googol of possible states."
Is ED25519 better than RSA? ›
ED25519 is generally considered more secure and efficient than RSA, while RSA provides a higher level of security due to its larger key size. The choice between these two algorithms depends on the specific application and the level of security and efficiency required.
What is the math behind RSA algorithm? ›
The Mathematics behind RSA. In RSA, we have two large primes p and q, a modulus N = pq, an encryption exponent e and a decryption exponent d that satisfy ed = 1 mod (p - 1)(q - 1). The public key is the pair (N,e) and the private key is d. C = Me mod N.
What is the trick to find D in RSA algorithm? ›
To find the value of 'd' in the RSA algorithm, we need to calculate the modular multiplicative inverse of 'e' modulo φ(n), where n is the product of the two prime numbers p and q, and φ(n) is the Euler's totient function. Now, we need to find the modular multiplicative inverse of 'e' modulo Ø(n).
What is RSA explained simply? ›
RSA is a widely used cryptographic algorithm that was first introduced in 1977. It uses public and private key pairs to encrypt and decrypt data. Though RSA can be used in several applications, its computational complexity makes it unsuitable for encrypting large messages or files.
Has RSA ever been hacked? ›
The RSA SecurID breach was a highly sophisticated cyberattack that occurred in March 2011, in which hackers accessed the computer systems of RSA, a company that provides two-factor authentication solutions to many organizations.
Is RSA still used? ›
RSA is a cryptography that continues to be prevalent in many technologies and products. RSA is a public-key mechanism for orchestrating secure data transmission and is one of the oldest key exchange algorithms.
Early history. The name RSA refers to the public-key encryption technology developed by RSA Data Security, Inc., which was founded in 1982. The abbreviation stands for Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman, the inventors of the technique.
Which is better, RSA 2048 or 4096? ›
A 4096 bit key does provide a reasonable increase in strength over a 2048 bit key, and according to the GNFS complexity, encryption strength doesn't drop off after 2048 bits. There's a significant increase in CPU usage for the brief time of handshaking as a result of a 4096 bit key.
How long would it take to break 2048 bit RSA? ›
With the world's fastest supercomputers, it would take around 300 trillion years to break the 2048-bit RSA encryption. A quantum computer would be finished with a similar task in merely eight hours.
Can RSA 2048 be broken? ›
"Breaking RSA is usually attempted by using Shor's algorithm in a quantum computer but there are no quantum computers in existence that can produce enough gates to implement Shor's algorithm that would break 2048 keys," Woodward said.
How useful is an RSA? ›
The main purpose of an RSA certificate is to ensure that individuals who work in establishments where alcohol is served have the necessary knowledge and skills to serve alcohol responsibly. The primary goal is to promote responsible drinking and prevent alcohol-related harm.
Is RSA a good conference? ›
While it's true that RSA security conference has some of the best minds in the industry, there are plenty of other resources out there - like podcasts, webinars and online courses and of course BSides - that can provide a much more comprehensive overview of all the relevant topics.
Is RSA still being used? ›
RSA is a cryptography that continues to be prevalent in many technologies and products. RSA is a public-key mechanism for orchestrating secure data transmission and is one of the oldest key exchange algorithms.
Why is RSA so good? ›
Benefits of RSA Encryption
It means it uses two different keys to encrypt and decrypt data. Key exchange: Since the RSA algorithm uses two keys for encryption and decryption, it's possible to exchange secret keys without actually sending the private key over the network.
