Hackers require only 15 minutes to break hash algorithms

New research on several commonly used hash algorithms has revealed security weaknesses in e-commerce systems and the internet, according to experts.

Hash algorithms are used by computers to compare data, and are a cornerstone of encryption and IT security systems. However, experts have warned that hackers now require only 15 minutes to create two email messages that produce the same digital signatures when checked by the most commonly used hash algorithms.