Cyber-Ark warns manufacturers to encrypt data after nVidia revelations

Its advice follows startling news from Russia that the nVidia GeForce 8800 graphics card can now be used to dramatically speed up the time needed to crack password systems. Elcomsoft, the Moscow-based IT security software vendor, claims that the nVidia GeForce 8000 graphics card can be used to increase the speed of ‘brute force’ password cracking by a factor of 25. “This means that the Windows Vista password system, which would normally take months and months to crack using a brute force technique, could be cracked in a matter of days, thanks to the parallel processing capabilities of the nVidia graphics processor,” says Calum Macleod, Cyber-Ark’s European director. “Elcomsoft’s revelations are likely to send shock waves through the IT security world, as it shows that powerful off-the-shelf kit can be now used for advanced hacking procedures. If ever there was a wake-up call to companies of the need to encrypt their data, this is it,” he adds.