Greenwald interview: NSA cannot break the code on Miranda's thumb drives.

[Aerows]

175. "The full actual computation - checking each key to see if you have found a solution"

Would definitely take many more times that amount, because it doesn't take into account necessary maintenance of the machine, downtime due to excessive heat, and backup to store the keys that were non-functional while the machine was down for necessary maintenance.

I love efficient hardware probably more than is healthy, but even in the best case scenario, you have to always add at least 5% downtime/suboptimal functionality to any box on the planet at BEST. That's provided that there never is a hardware failure or a power interruption. Or that you need to move it somewhere in it's 20 year life span. Or that it's rack needs to be re adjusted. Or that it's switching interface died. Or that it got too cold one day in the server room, or too hot.

All of that shit happens.