rubber-hose cryptanalysis

n. [sci.crypt newsgroup] The technique of breaking a code or cipher by
finding someone who has the key and applying a rubber hose vigorously and
repeatedly to the soles of that luckless person's feet until the key is
discovered. Shorthand for any method of coercion: the originator of the term
drily noted that it can take a surprisingly short time and is quite
computationally inexpensive relative to other cryptanalysis methods. Compare
social engineering , brute force.

