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It's an easy flub, almost so easy as to be content free. The correct statement is either: factoring into prime numbers, or factoring semiprime numbers.

So when I see pedants picking this one out, I think people should be given a break! :)

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I actually came here to delete my comment, because it occurred to me that it might sound mean-spirited. But it seems I am too late. I found the mistake amusing, that's all.

OH no! I've prevented you from deleting your comment! I wasn't being too hard on you. If you want, I can delete mine, and we can both delete everything before the 2 hour deadline?

Nope! It’s an interesting and informative mistake.

Funny — how it spawned a whole subthread on its own!

If you don't mind, I'd prefer if you leave it up as a reminder that comments that might seem mean-spirited should be given the benefit of the doubt.

In my opinion it is better to assume people mean well and I feel like you've proven me right (this time)

Modern encryption techniques are based on our inability to factor large numbers into prime numbers. If you factor a number that's used as the key into the two prime numbers it was composed from, then you have broken the encryption.

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