December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

CNN on Crypto
by John Young 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

CNN had a piece on crypto last evening. Jim Bidzos spoke about selling RSA products to China, and lamented export restrictions. PRZ commented on crypto-enabled privacy. A voice-over warned of crypto use by criminals and terrorists and its threat to law enforcement and intelligence. While not there now, presumably the story will be on the CNN Web site later: http://cnn.com

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Re: Need a "warning" graphic of some kind for CDA
by lunaslide＠loop.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>About all the proposed symbols and logos and ribbons.... > >I realize I often come across as a naysayer against collective efforts to >design logos, arm patches, flags, and other such tribal insignias...(:-}). > >Logos and symbols have their place. The "Big Brother Inside" logo is a good >joke. > >But mainly I think that we underestimate the value of _words_. Instead of >some cutesy logo, such as a red rose being run over by the "Valdez," a logo >which many people would not understand and would not be interested in >looking up an explanation for, why not simply include a couple of English >sentances _describing_ why the page has been censored, why adult material >has been removed, etc.? (This is the norm today, and I'm glad of it. I >don't relish looking at a Web page filled with inscrutably clever icons and >logos.) > >Graphical icons are great, and worked well until writing was invented. I agree that words have thier place, however, combined with easily recognizable, uniformly similar graphical symbols, they become even more powerful. That's one of the greatest strengths of the web, is it not? lunaslide On the meridian of time there is no injustice, only the poetry of motion creating the illusion of truth and drama. Henry Miller -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6.2 mQBvAzD3EHEAAAEDAMVwZzXozPjX18mCenA5fJsdWZXcrhJCxPR+SoVCmR7d4ZVU mwITzPTHo/GyLvJrWyk5YdhheczyY2VSawaMrCN/nWA7K9lwAylbKyPxqBhRYJ3C 2wi2uD5LY2wypNOQyQARAQABtB5KZWZmIENvbm4gPGx1bmFzbGlkZUBsb29wLmNv bT6JAHUDBRAw+1bqS2NsMqTTkMkBAQkTAwCersFbCyk8O0MbGlNcZDAe24CLEWQ0 0C5EHni33W76UsG1bybcLsuMH6HVwLF7IqZivnzc7wkujYPQvCqn8HEYYTld8V9V Cou4dOvA8kV7rHvAn/LuLx7DRruLFrRoPSk= =OIT9 -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

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Hypermail & Cypherpunks
by simsong＠vineyard.net 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Have any of your cypherpunks set up a hypermail archive for cypherpunks? If not, I would be willing to set one up on some machine. ============= "Superior technology is no match for superior marketing." ============= Simson on Tour: Feb 2 - Feb 5 - Cambridge: Conference on Freely Redistributable Software Feb 7 - Feb 13 - Baltimore: American Association for the Advancement of Science. Feb. 28 - March 1 - Seybold, Boston. March 23 - NYC. MacFair. March 27 - March 30: Cambridge. Computers, Freedom and Privacy.

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Article on CAs in WebWeek
by olbon＠dynetics.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

An article on the front page of WebWeek this week discusses digital signatures and CAs. The best point made was that a small company could undercut (pricewise) the post office as a CA. Overall it seemed a pretty fair article. It mentioned UC Berkeley researchers "spoofing" a Netscape server's identity and sending false data to the client. This was news to me, I am curious as to how this was done. The paper article also listed as a "resource on the net" the URL for Tim May's cyphernomicon. Here's the link. Enjoy. Article: Big Step Forward For Authentication URL: http://pubs.iworld.com/ww-online/96Feb/news/authentication.html Clay --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clay Olbon II | olbon(a)dynetics.com Systems Engineer | ph: (810) 589-9930 fax 9934 Dynetics, Inc., Ste 302 | http://www.msen.com/~olbon/olbon.html 550 Stephenson Hwy | PGP262 public key: finger olbon(a)mgr.dynetics.com Troy, MI 48083-1109 | pgp print: B97397AD50233C77523FD058BD1BB7C0 "To escape the evil curse, you must quote a bible verse; thou shalt not ... Doooh" - Homer (Simpson, not the other one) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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RSA-China Crypto
by John Young 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Wall Street Journal, February 8, 1996, p. A10. China, U.S. Firm Challenge U.S. On Encryption-Software Exports By Don Clark RSA Data Security Inc., the dominant supplier of data-privacy software, announced an unusual partnership with the Chinese government that exploits loopholes in U.S. export restrictions on codemaking technology. As part of the deal, RSA, which is based in Redwood City, Calif., plans to fund an effort by Chinese government scientists to develop new encryption software. The Chinese-developed software, based on RSA's general mathematical formula, may be more powerful than versions now permitted for export under U.S. Iaws, said James Bidzos, RSA's president. Two Chinese agencies also will use and distribute RSA data encryption products that may be legally exported from the U.S. The Chinese encryption-development arrangement, which isn't based on those products, appears to be legal as long as RSA doesn't supply the scientists with any other controlled technology, lawyers familiar with export laws said. RSA's move comes at a sensitive time in U.S.-China relations, and opens a new front in the company's long-running campaign against encryption export regulations. The closely held company, and other U.S. software concerns, have attacked the Clinton administration and the National Security Agency for trying to limit the strength of exported U.S. technology, while stronger products increasingly can be purchased from competing foreign companies. "The government has opened export doors a crack, and we sort of drove a Mack truck through them," Mr. Bidzos said of the Chinese deal. "The genie is truly out of the bottle." Stewart Baker, a Washington lawyer and former general counsel of the NSA, said the government "obviously would not be thrilled" by RSA's China venture. China hasn't in the past been party to international agreements governing encryption exports, he noted, and RSA's move could force other countries to consider China as an important player. "It's going to create an interesting strain in the international discussion," he said. Japan, an even more potent force in technology, appears to be leaning toward loosening export controls on encryption, Mr. Baker and other industry executives say. RSA plans to announce the formation of a new company in Japan today, but the venture will be subject to U.S. export controls, Mr. Bidzos said. Encryption uses special mathematical formulas, called algorithms, to scramble voice conversations or data to make them unintelligible to eavesdroppers. RSA's founders developed a popular variant of the technology that helps determine the authenticity of senders and recipients of messages. Both privacy and authentication are widely regarded as crucial to advances in electronic commerce. RSA struck its deal with departments of China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and the Academy of Sciences. They will use two RSA software products -- one for authentication and one for protecting the contents of PC hard drives -- internally and help distribute them. The Academy scientists who will develop new encryption software also will be paid to try to break RSA's products to test their strength, Mr. Bidzos said. A spokesman at the Commerce Department's bureau of export administration said he was unaware of RSA's China venture, but said the agency would be monitoring developments. Mr. Baker, the former NSA attorney, questioned whether customers in other countries would warm to the idea of Chinese-developed encryption software. Products approved by the U.S. government for export have the stigma that NSA can decode, and Chinese products might be subject to even more suspicion, Mr. Baker said. Still, the RSA deal is likely to be seen as further evidence of slipping U.S. control over encryption. "It is another example of what happens when you try to impose unilateral controls on what is in reality uncontrollable technology," said Bruce Heiman, an outside attorney for the Business Software Alliance. [End]

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e$: Paint it Black
by rah＠shipwright.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- As strange as my politics are ;-), I've never been one for political protests, at least not since I graduated college and grew up. However, it seems that I've done enough protesting for silly causes in my youth to excuse me for doing one small thing about something I still *do* believe in, the freedom to talk about what you want without the threat of someone hauling you off to jail. With that in mind, I'm joining the EFF, VTW, and thousands of other web sites across the world today and making the e$ Home Page black for 48 hours. I'm hoping that others out there will join me in making Black Thursday as memorable as they can for the people who think that censoring the net is even possible, much less conscionable. "The net sees censorship as damage, and routes around it." -- John Gilmore Cheers, Bob Hettinga -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBMRoPsPgyLN8bw6ZVAQE0rwP+LZu5yNwabfBCyTjjnez5/VooUA5f6zkf gTFKHWDelSZS1RZ8ynoOzYSDJ7KzKQDEvETmeY59VTVODKR0brrDwwwbconFCaCm wEcjuhwPpw3jECMPpFNc0NFAdC4h3uoiG8sBY3Da6RZlEVkxgvj0XDweslbcPC/x 6Kkiy6oUJd4= =F1Vn -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ----------------- Robert Hettinga (rah(a)shipwright.com) e$, 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "Reality is not optional." --Thomas Sowell The e$ Home Page: http://thumper.vmeng.com/pub/rah/

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Archives back on line
by Leslie Todd Masco 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- The cypherpunks archives are back to being updated regularly. I apologize for the lapse (and repeat my lament on the quality -- or lack thereof -- of hypermail). The URL: http://www.hks.net/cpunks/ - --- [This message has been signed by an auto-signing service. A valid signature means only that it has been received at the address corresponding to the signature and forwarded.] -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 Comment: Gratis auto-signing service iQBFAwUBMRoV3yoZzwIn1bdtAQFlWAF9Ev0ihCGbT6JOGXlKgtrI+ZOk8wmJxnVK NQNsP6J1Td1/2ui3Q8JL3dkhqYwOLHPF =ZBO0 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: Report available: "Minimal Key Lengths for Symmetric Ciphers"
by anonymous＠freezone.remailer 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I downloaded this so-called "report". It doesn't even mentions PGP. Gotta wonder why the 007 wannabe "experts" and the Big Business (BSA) want you to only use 90 bits for your keys and why they've never heard of PGP... Anyone who listens to crypto advice from people who's purpose in life is to listen to *YOU* gets what they deserve. I'll stay with PGP which has a 2048 bit key. JustWalT

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Re: Arthur C. Clarke Supports Strong Crypto
by avatar＠mindspring.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 09:06 PM 2/4/96 -0800, you wrote: >-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > >At 08:05 PM 2/4/96 -0800, Timothy C. May wrote: >> >>(Pardon me for mentioning crypto...) >> >>Arthur C. Clarke, known to most of you (author of many SF works, coiner of >>the phrase: "all sufficiently advanced technlogies are indistinguishable >>from magic," mention by Alan Olsen yesterday), has a role in a "Discovery >>Channel" program called "Mysterious Universe." > >Actually, it was _I_ who mentioned this quote, but didn't specifically >recall whom to ascribe it to. Perhaps Tim May didn't see it; a week or so >ago May engaged in a shotgun-type killfile addition, including me when I was >merely ( I still believe...) the victim in a local flamewar. If there is >somebody out there who: > >1. Is on speaking terms with Tim May. >and >2. Has a little respect for my commentary, I would very much appreciate it >if you would forward this comment to him to ensure that he sees it. > >The truly ironic thing is that Tim wrongly ascribes the comment to Alan >Olsen, who is apparently the (recently admitted) perpetrator of at least one >flamewar >against me. > >Jim Bell >jimbell(a)pacifier.com > GROW UP!! Charles Donald Smith Jr. ||The government is my shepherd I need not work. It alloweth me to lie down on a good job. It leadeth me beside stilled factories. It destroyeth my initiative. It leadeth me in the path of a parasite for politics sake. YEA, though I walk through the valley of laziness and deficet spending I shall fear no evil, for the government is with me. It prepareth an economic utopia for me by appropriating the earnings of my grandchildren. It filleth my head with false security. My inefficiency runeth over. Surely, the government should care for me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in a fools paradise forever.................AMEN! || nuke'm if ya got'em||

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Escrow Key Testimony: Witnesses Wanted
by Declan B. McCullagh 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>From Robert Steele: The staff of the Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy (primary sponsor is Senator Moynihan from New York) is looking for individuals able to provide authoritative testimony for or against the escrow key concept as it applies to the effectiveness of law enforcement. I suppose this is grand-son of Clipper, but it is a serious aspect of their over-all mandate, and probably a good idea to help them. I recommend direct contact to the deptuy staff director, Jacques Rondeau, whose email address is <fastermover(a)ichange.com>.

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Re: Encryption and Backups
by jamesd＠echeque.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 08:33 PM 2/4/96 -0800, John Pettitt wrote: > CP Backup (part of PC Tools for Central Point aka Symantec) has DES. As to > how good the implementation is: I have no idea. Broken: I worked on that (well I attended meetings on the implementation of that). It will keep out the average kid sister. Better than rot 13. I protested vociferously, saying that such encryption verged on fraud, and my boss overruled me without explanation or discussion -- odd behavior for him. --------------------------------------------------------------------- | We have the right to defend ourselves | http://www.jim.com/jamesd/ and our property, because of the kind | of animals that we are. True law | James A. Donald derives from this right, not from the | arbitrary power of the state. | jamesd(a)echeque.com

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Media: FV story makes ClariNet
by Joseph M. Reagle Jr. 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1996 FEB 7 (NB) -- First Virtual Holdings, >a company offering an Internet commerce system, has demonstrated a >program which, it says, makes all existing software systems that >encrypt credit card numbers and transmit them over the Internet >vulnerable to security breaches. ... _______________________ Regards, Talent develops in tranquillity, character in the full current of human life. -Goethe Joseph Reagle http://farnsworth.mit.edu/~reagle/home.html reagle(a)mit.edu 0C 69 D4 E8 F2 70 24 33 B4 5E 5E EC 35 E6 FB 88

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Mailing list
by JOHN MARTIN LEWARS 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Hey hey, Please make me apart of your mailing list. Thanks, jack

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Free Speech Mirrors hit Toronto Star
by Tim Philp 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

96/02/08 Canada's largest newspaper, The Toronto Star today published an account of the Ernst Zundel affair in the Fast Forward Section of the paper. Net columnist K. K. Campbell, in what looks like a 1500 word article, (I didn't count them) gives a good account of the German attempt to censor the Internet. He even mentions the fact that the MIT mirror was ordered removed, but gives no details. He goes on to take a shot at other attempts at censorship like the Church of Scientology lawsuits and the disaster that ensued attempting to keep these documents secret. Finally, he talks about the frustration of Canadian Interneters who continually have to listen to US netters saying that the US would never pass hate speech legislation like Canada has. He points out that while this has been true, the US has an "odious record" when it comes to protecting the rights of people to talk privately. Now it seems that the US has joined Canada with restrictive speech laws with the new telecommunications bill. Campbell uses the example of removing the Web site containing the King James Bible because it has the word "PISS" (II Kings) which has been ruled indecent by the US Supreme Court! The last couple of paragraphs talk about the EFF blue ribbon campaign and the Web page black background. Al in all a good article. Sometimes even journalists get it right <G> Regards, Tim Philp =================================== For PGP Public Key, Send E-mail to: pgp-public-keys(a)swissnet.ai.mit.edu In Subject line type: GET PHILP ===================================

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Degrees of Freedom
by tcmay＠got.net 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

V-CHIP CONTENT WARNING: THIS POST IS RATED: R, V, NPC, RI, S, I13. [For processing by the required-by-1998 V-chips, those reading this post from an archive must set their V-chip to "42-0666." I will not be held responsible for posts incorrectly filtered-out by a V-chip that has been by-passed, hot-chipped, or incorrectly programmed.] ***WARNING!*** It has become necessary to warn potential readers of my messages before they proceed further. This warning may not fully protect me against criminal or civil proceedings, but it may be treated as a positive attempt to obey the various and increasing numbers of laws. * Under the ***TELECOM ACT OF 1996***, minor CHILDREN (under the age of 18) may not read or handle this message under any circumstances. If you are under 18, delete this message NOW. Also, if you are developmentally disabled, irony-impaired, emotionally traumatized, schizophrenic, suffering PMS, affected by Humor Deprivation Syndrom (HDS), or under the care of a doctor, then the TELECOM ACT OF 1996 may apply to you as well, even if you are 18. If you fall into one of these categories and are not considered competent to judge for yourself what you are reading, DELETE this message NOW. * Under the UTAH PROTECTION OF CHILDREN ACT OF 1996, those under the age of 21 may not read this post. All residents of Utah, and Mormons elsewhere, must install the M-Chip. * Under the PROTECTION OF THE REICH laws, residents of Germany may not read this post. * Under the MERCIFUL SHIELD OF ALLAH (Praise be to Him!) holy interpretations of the Koran of the following countries (but not limited to this list) you may not read this post if you are a FEMALE OF ANY AGE: Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Libya, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, Oman, Syria, Bahrain, and the Palestinian Authority. Non-female persons may also be barred from reading this post, depending on the settings of your I-Chip. * Under the proposed CHINESE INTERNET laws, covering The People's Republic of China, Formosa, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, and parts of several surrrounding territories, the rules are so nebulous and unspecified that I cannot say whether you are allowed to read this. Thus, you must SUBMIT any post you wish to read to your local authorities for further filtering. * In Singapore, merely be RECEIVING this post you have violated the will of Lee Kwan Yu. Report to your local police office to receive your caning. * Finally, if you are barrred from contact with the Internet, or protected by court order from being disturbed by thoughts which may disturb you, or covered by protective orders, it is up to you to adjust the settings of your V-Chip to ensure that my post does not reach you. *** THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN COMPLYING WITH THESE LAWS *** At 5:27 PM 2/8/96, Alex Strasheim wrote: >A split between a Western net and a Chineese net would have important >political, cultural, and economic reprecussions; it could be the >cyberspatial version of the old iron curtain, with information policy >rather than economic policy as a dividing line. Given the massive number of "degrees of freedom" compared to earlier days when the Iron Curtain "sort of" worked, albeit with lots of leaks, I see little chance it can be pulled off. The Chinese want a Bamboo Curtain, the Muslims want a Veiled Curtain, the Jews want a Wailing Wall, and the Germans wanted barbed wire. It ain't gonna work. >We ought to speak out against this Chineese net, and start asking >questions about Western companies that are collaborating in its >construction. The usual suspects: SAIC, Wackenhut, NewsCorp, etc. --Tim May [This Bible excerpt awaiting review under the Communications Decency Act] And then Lot said, "I have some mighty fine young virgin daughters. Why don't you boys just come on in and do em right here in my house - I'll just watch!"....Later, up in the mountains, the younger daughter said. "Dad's getting old. I say we should do him." So the two daughters got him drunk and did him all that night. Sure enough, Dad got em pregnant....Onan really hated the idea of doing his brother's wife and getting her pregnant while his brother got all the credit, so he whacked off first....Remember, it's not a good idea to have sex with your sister, your brother, your parents, your pet dog, or the farm animals. [excerpts from the Old Testament, Modern Vernacular Translation, TCM, 1996]

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Re: Assassination Politics--isn't it gambling?
by jim bell 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- At 10:05 AM 2/8/96 -0500, Brian Davis wrote: >On Wed, 7 Feb 1996, jim bell wrote: > >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >> >> At 06:00 PM 2/6/96 PST, banelaw(a)med.com wrote: >> >Jim: as to "Assassination Politics." Isn't the structure you describe >> >gambling? Placing money on a prediction, with the correct predictor >> >winning? >> >> I guess that depends on the laws, doesn't it? <G> Seriously, though, since >> all the participants are anonymous, and it can all be done from overseas... >> >> Somehow, though, I think politicians will take little solace from knowing >> that they are protected from death only by laws against gambling. > >Yeah, those silly homicide laws don't apply if there is a bet on the line. Don't tell me; let me guess: You haven't read the essay, and you're not a lawyer, right? >> > And if so, isn't it illegal if done over the wires, i.e., federal >> >commerce? I'm not looking for a way to declare your scheme illegal, I'm >> >just pointing out that there are other angles, especially if done over the >> >wires. >> >> I'd sure like to read a serious legal analysis of all this. Maybe all the >> lawyers are too terrified to respond. >> >Wire fraud would be the least of your worries. Try conspiracy to commit >murder. Don't tell me, let me guess: You haven't read the essay, and you're not a lawyer, right? I've been posting this for months on various areas of FIDOnet, USENET, and now here. I have never seen a lawyer seriously attempt to refute my analysis. If you really WERE a lawyer, and had read what I wrote, you would have been able to be FAR more detailed in your reasoning. > >> jimbell(a)pacifier.com >> >> Klaatu Burada Nikto >> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I know I should know it, but can't place it. Help >anybody? > >EBD 1950(1) SF movie called "The Day the Earth Stood Still." (This was the phrase Klaatu asked the woman to convey to Gort, his faithful (and indestructible and invincible) robot, in order to summon help.) Anyway, the relevance of all this will become clear, eventually. The reason? "Something is going to happen. Something... Wonderful!" (2010) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBMRo73PqHVDBboB2dAQEUxwP/XVd9YfCX1y5bblh9SwYQVXHzYvXEv/1H dO2TAHrPFpde+nbp0IQ04YN9IA88hd8qQEZhdZl8MlPTeXjW3Qbv+seYq4RGyfR+ PjnxOHU2QVFHatXLeLVhteCFbquLEf6pg3NusV8h67lfthIejPEV56ZnBMGOzJKh CG1siobI6oY= =RPdT -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: Reasons in support of crypto-anarchy WAS Re: Why am I (fwd)
by jim bell 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- At 08:07 PM 2/7/96 -0500, Perry E. Metzger wrote: >Look folks, I'm really sick about the debate about Jim's ideas about >"assassination politics". (My opinion about the idea isn't >transmittable under the Exon law so I couldn't say anything anyway). > >This has gone off into political theory. Could we take it to private >mail or some such? Apparently, other people are just as unhappy with your attempts to act as "moderator" of this list. Wake up! Freedom is on the line. Klaatu B urada Nikto. Jim Bell -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBMRo+rfqHVDBboB2dAQG5kAP/Zg/Blm/J2ym4G/TSPxgyMy94+Jw3F4gx V4TGLtbtSDKYmKneGx6GcKLj4Ai6G5I/Ls58K8Agz1QCrZLOqoB2P41JH3/DI6ka aJRlj8du6e+T0CoAVvun5ANwZSY6nqtJmjLdc+Wwxfs3T1l9KZDDkO+1FoWu8SDT 0P8D71Kzz+w= =amJV -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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PRIVACY: Shared Databases
by James M. Cobb 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Friend, 02 08 95 Bloomberg newsstory datelined Chicago, headlined AMERITECH, BELL ATLANTIC AGREE TO SHARE CALLER ID DATABASES reports: In December, the Federal Communications Commission mandated that caller ID should be available nationwide and that long- distance companies must carry a caller's name, as well as the number. But... Long-distance companies, which will now be able to compete for customers with the Baby Bells, have dragged their feet, and did- n't carry the names.... Which means: ...it will be up to local phone companies to form alliances.... The latest example: Ameritech Corp. and Bell Atlantic Corp. said they will swap cus- tomer data bases to better carry caller ID calls between their regions. Back in December Ameritech ...signed a similar agreement with U S West.... And generally, ...local phone companies [must] form alliances like the one be- tween Ameritech and Bell Atlantic to offer nationwide caller ID. For OUR eyes only! Cordially, Jim NOTE. The newsstory's www.nando.net online filename: info12_24399.html This critical essay was composed 02 08 96.

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COPYRIGHT: Skeleton Bill
by James M. Cobb 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Friend, 02 08 96 Associated Press newsstory datelined Washington, headlined COPYRIGHT VIOLATORS SHOULD FACE CRIMINAL PENALTIES reports: The House Judiciary Committee's panel on courts and intellectual property is considering legislation...to clarify copyright law for electronic information. Panel = subcommittee. Its chairman is Carlos Moorhead, R-CA. He says the legislation [is] a "skeleton bill" which "We want to make sure we get...into law this session." The skeleton of the skeleton law = "recommendations by the Clinton ad- ministration." Moorehead also says: " We don't want to put so much meat on the skeleton that it dies of obesity." Testifying before the subcommitte were the Motion Picture Association of America's Valenti and Broadcast Music Inc's Preston who "agreed that the legislation should be passed quickly." Preston and Valenti rejected a proposal by Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., to exempt on-line service providers from copyright infringement liability.... So there goes cheap access to the 'Net. That's what "We don't want to put so much meat on the skeleton that it dies of obesity" MEANS! Cordially, Jim NOTE. The newsstory's www.nando.net online filename is: info7_24355.html This critical essay was composed 02 08 96.

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Re: Report available: "Minimal Key Lengths for Symmetric Ciphers"
by Karl A. Siil 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 10:28 AM 2/8/96 -0500, anonymous(a)freezone.remailer wrote: >I downloaded this so-called "report". It doesn't even mentions PGP. >Gotta wonder why the 007 wannabe "experts" and the Big Business (BSA) >want you to only use 90 bits for your keys and why they've never heard >of PGP... > >Anyone who listens to crypto advice from people who's purpose in life >is to listen to *YOU* gets what they deserve. I'll stay with PGP which >has a 2048 bit key. Ummm, apples and oranges. The report focused on symmetric-key algorithms. Also, the recommendation was for a *minimum* of 90 bits. I'm sure the authors would be ecstatic to see *128-bit* (not 2048) IDEA like PGP (or does PGP encrypt with RSA, too? I thought it only used RSA for signing. I admit it. I don't know). The purpose of the report was not "90 bits is good." It was "40 bits is *really* bad." Karl

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RSA-China Cypto-Porn Distribution ?
by A. Padgett Peterson, P.E. Information Security 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

> Wall Street Journal, February 8, 1996, p. A10. > China, U.S. Firm Challenge U.S. On Encryption-Software Exports > By Don Clark >RSA Data Security Inc., the dominant supplier of >data-privacy software, announced an unusual partnership >with the Chinese government that exploits loopholes in U.S. >export restrictions on codemaking technology. And the logical next step would be that the Chinese crypto would be adopted by all those wishing to distribute filty, indecent, pornographic materials depicting the sexual and excretory organs of various mammals (watch out Shamu - the law said nothing about human organs) to show a "good faith" effort to protect America's yout. Warmly, Padgett "Life will find a way". Ian - _Jurrasic Park_

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FEE DEADLINE: IMC Resolving Security Complexity Workshop
by Dave Crocker 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Friday is the dealine for the lower registration fee to the workshop. While the differential is small, the real concern is that we have a reasonable estimate of the number of attendees. If you plan to attend and have not yet sent an indication, please do so. Resolving Email Security Complexity Workshop 21 February 1996 * 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM San Jose (CA) Hilton & Towers * San Carlos Room (next to Convention Center) Pre-registration & payment: $50 * After February 16: $75 (cash, check, wire transfer, money order, or First Virtual) To register for the meeting: Web: <http://www.imc.org/workshop-registration> Email: <mailto:workshop-registration@imc.org> For discussion before and after the meeting: Web: <http://www.imc.org/workshop/> Email: <mailto:resolving-security-request@imc.org>

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Re: Degrees of Freedom
by tcmay＠got.net 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 7:33 PM 2/8/96, Alex Strasheim wrote: >The headers I clipped off of Tim's post might not be as farfetched as >they seem at first. What if they built a central storehouse of technical >information that's accessible to all, transactional systems that >facilitate international trade between member states, and left cultural >and political content to the tyrants of the respective nations? >Everyone's can grab mechanical engineering info, and evryone can buy >shoes from China, but Islamic users will have to rely on Islamic sources >for world news and political commentary. Differences in human languages >are going to make the tyrants' job a lot easier -- how many Chineese >speak Arabic? Not many Chinese speak Arabic, proportionately, but English is far and away the most common _second_ language. This has been a major key to the success of the Internet. The implications are pretty clear. I'm skeptical about the technological feasibility of the "central storehouse" model, for reasons technological as well as sociocultural. >I don't disagree that eventually such a plan will fail. But centrally >planned economies competing with market driven ones will eventually fail >as well, and that didn't stop communism from casting a long dark shadow >over the second half of the century. Is a laissez-faire response based on >an extremely promising but still untested analysis (ie., crypto anarchy) >prudent? Sure, give it a try and see what happens. People die every day, of all sorts of things. Every decision we make affects the timelines of others, causing some to live that would have been on a plane that crashes, causing others to accept jobs that ultimately result in their deaths, etc. I learned a long time ago not to lose any sleep over the "potential" bad effects that ideas can have. --Tim [This Bible excerpt awaiting review under the Communications Decency Act] And then Lot said, "I have some mighty fine young virgin daughters. Why don't you boys just come on in and do em right here in my house - I'll just watch!"....Later, up in the mountains, the younger daughter said. "Dad's getting old. I say we should do him." So the two daughters got him drunk and did him all that night. Sure enough, Dad got em pregnant....Onan really hated the idea of doing his brother's wife and getting her pregnant while his brother got all the credit, so he whacked off first....Remember, it's not a good idea to have sex with your sister, your brother, your parents, your pet dog, or the farm animals. [excerpts from the Old Testament, Modern Vernacular Translation, TCM, 1996]

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Join the NIA
by Brian D Williams 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- The NIA.... Yes the National Internet Association....... Patterned after you know who..... I'm not kidding, I think it's time. "Privacy Through Cryptography." "Communicate Globally, Censor Locally." I think an old Doonesbury cartoon that had Duke (representing the NRA) testifying before a Senate subcommittee summed it up nicely..... Senator: "And we and the American people have had enough of you and your fanatic organization!" Duke: " I see Senator, shall I put you down for a million postcards?" Senator: " Don't you threaten me mister!" Politicians only understand one thing. Brian D Williams "I am the NIA." - -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6.2 mQCNAy7eA7wAAAEEAJgUoJWlE/7ntxpdfFKJC0EIx1nPmOrfBkIz3N/qyqPsqY6A WJ9jx1oNow8sMjFPET6kbMw2cScfVOUisekK7xVQWuADUPscRXg8zI3x0ws9z2KV ITL+cO7zODIA1+wZS8v14RJpG4dXF1Q9YsydU8T5bodAcsF5TnsfmVh/uI7xAAUR tChCcmlhbiBEIFdpbGxpYW1zIDx0YWxvbjU3QHdlbGwuc2YuY2EudXM+ =moCK - -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBMRpVE3sfmVh/uI7xAQEJhQP/Y5ze19vV+Mvdsq5Ep6nr/hNrMldjSSnZ 8qfXupCkIANIzivqFOiFG+qxXH4UPBZyzklnn3uOkPGewaoNJ2MDnhXCBhWHR0/y +T2Br/nnkIOsyx6wCFMISeKj9oJxqdTd3uZ1hZw8yAfbZqNB755wRsHEK2VQTwzP rwlOgPDC7q4= =3Iya -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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"Plonk"
by anonymous-remailer＠shell.portal.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Why do people feel the need to announce to the whole world that they have just plonked someone? Big deal. It happens all the time. Plonk 'em and get on with your life.

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