Dec. 18, 2013, 1:47 p.m.
IT

There goes GnuPG's RSA Encryption

It seems like a highly unlikely source of side channel leakage has successfully been compromised. Researchers found a way to retrieve the signing RSA key from a GnuPG encryption algorithm in about an hour's time by using a mobile phone's microphone while the phone is left close to a computer. With specialized microphones it is even possible to be about 4 meters away from the computer and still retrieve the key.

In the real word, this means it is possible if someone has physical access to the vicinity of your computer, and about an hour of time to waste they can crack your RSA key. The old adage is very true - cracking only ever gets better, never worse with time.