> No, because usually the private key is around 256 bits, so you need to compute 2^255 hops on average to find the key.
So if my key is 255 bits long, then don't I need to do the 255 2^255 hops anyway to actually decrypt something? And in running 2^255 hops, wouldn't I have also cracked the key if it was any number less than that?
> bigger keys also result in longer encryption/decryption times.
So, there's a reasonable upper bound for the key length? Does that mean 256 bits aren't reasonable, and wouldn't this reasonable upper bound be more brute forceable?
So if my key is 255 bits long, then don't I need to do the 255 2^255 hops anyway to actually decrypt something? And in running 2^255 hops, wouldn't I have also cracked the key if it was any number less than that?
> bigger keys also result in longer encryption/decryption times.
So, there's a reasonable upper bound for the key length? Does that mean 256 bits aren't reasonable, and wouldn't this reasonable upper bound be more brute forceable?