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[CFRG] Re: Random-access authenticated encryption (raAE) draft

Ilari Liusvaara <ilariliusvaara@welho.com> Tue, 14 July 2026 12:54 UTC

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Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:54:23 +0300
From: Ilari Liusvaara <ilariliusvaara@welho.com>
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Subject: [CFRG] Re: Random-access authenticated encryption (raAE) draft
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On Tue, Jul 14, 2026 at 08:25:05AM +0000, John Mattsson wrote:
> Hi Nick,
> 
> Thanks for driving this!
> 
> I think this has a lot of value and something the IETF should work on.
> I think even standardizing file encryption even without random-access
> would have value. My experience is that very weak file options like
> openssl-enc, gpg, and deriving a keys from low entropy passwords are
> still commonly used in practice.

What I do not like about existing file encryption options:

- Lack of chunking (problems with very large messages).
- Poor interoperability (options that are not interoperable).
- Poor algorithm agility (nobody will ever break X, right?).
- Poor specifications (usually, what specification?).
- Radioactive algorithms (usually born that way).
- Lots of accidental complexity.
- Textual encoding (instead of encode-at-end-if-needed).
- Lack of encrypted headers (none at all, or only unencrypted).

... And I am sure there is more.




-Ilari

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