December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Chinese Cypherpunk quote [NOISE]
by nobody＠REPLAY.COM 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I see that some rants here are rubbing off on the folks who write chinese fortune cookies, In tonites dinner, The cookie said: The will of the people is the best law. I wonder if we can get a couple thousand cookies sent to Congress with that message? A.E.N. or to T.C.M..... Xmas_Troll

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Netscape 40-bit cracking. The new computing benchmark?
by Weld Pond 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>From Infoworld Dec 25, 1995 page 3. Netscape Commerce Server Security Broken Integrated Computing Engines Inc. (ICE), in Cambridge, Mass. announced it has cracked the 40-bit DES [huh? not RC4] encryption in the Netscape Commerce Server. Unlike a similar security break-in [talk about bad terminology] by a French university student last August, which required eight days, 120 workstations, and two supercomputers, ICE said it used a computer that cost $83,000 and compromised the Wold Wide Web server's security in 7.7 days. [Hey, what about the Cypherpunks crack that only took 31.8 hours?] Netscape Communications Corp. officials were not surprised by the security crack. "We've known that 40-bit encryption is breakable since we shipped the server. That's the reason it's allowed to be exported," said company spokeswoman Rosanne Siino. "We need to keep lobbying to get rid of the U.S. governments 40-bit restriction on what can be exported." Within the United States, Netscape sells products with 128-bit encryption. Weld Pond - weld(a)l0pht.com - http://www.l0pht.com/ L 0 p h t H e a v y I n d u s t r i e s Technical archives for the people - Bio/Electro/Crypto/Radio

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Re: Compuserve is Not "Censoring": Look to Governments for the Cause
by tallpaul＠pipeline.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

On Dec 28, 1995 23:30:19, 'tcmay(a)got.net (Timothy C. May)' wrote: > >I see a positive longterm trend toward people connecting through smaller, >more local services. > Quite correct. Not only does the internet radically change (at least perceptions) of space and time, it also is producing serious disequilibriums of scale in economics. Economy of scale states that until a farily high limit is reached, bigger enterprises tend to produce goods that are less expensive than those produced by smaller enterprises. Specialized handicraft production aside, the goods produced in larger enterprises also tend to be of higher quality. The disequilibrium here began with the development of the microprocessor as we see from the shift to the old centralized IBM iron to the microcomputers we're using today. Ditto certain aspects of network switching. Ditto DES moved from centralized hardware to decentralized software. We're seeing a growing dystopian world where national entities and non-governmental organizations all seek to enforce their particular cultural/political/economic/etc. biases on the global internet. I believe this process will continue for some period of time. At the same time we may (and I think likely will) see aspects of the net broken down into widely geographically separated locations that simultaneously have no more effect on end users than the floor at the central library on which the book we want resides. E.G. we'll use Denmark to get "alt.sex.granny.gum-jobs," ftp to Singapore for "/warez/microsoft/win99/hack/" and to the Turcos Islands for "data.finance.internal.morgan." We'll have all three open and on our monitor at the same time, passed through an second-level ISP in some small country that decides there's money in switching and will no more regulate data throughput than they would try to hold hotel keepers responsible for the content of the phone calls made by their tenants. --tallpaul

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Re: Compuserve is Not "Censoring"
by Bill.Humphries＠msn.fullfeed.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

This is a resend of a reply to Tim May's message on the CI$/Bundsweiser Republic/alt.nekkid.hitler.youth controversy. The Cypherpunks mailer didn't enjoy my attempts at humor in the headers... ------------ Tim May wrote: >At 4:52 PM 12/28/95, Cees de Groot wrote, speaking of Compuserve's recent >dropping of many newsgroups in response to demands by German prosecutors: > >>I won't start to comment on the style of this message. The term "Suitspeak" >>comes to mind. > >Perhaps it is "Suitspeak," but it is not "censorship." > >Or, more precisely, it is fear that government laws will be used to >sanction the service. Thus, it is the government of Germany in this case >which is "censoring." ("Censor" and "censorship" are notoriously overloaded >terms, of course.) It's a political problem. This demonstates the basic problem with tollerating monopolies in this industry. When governments interfere, everyone subscribing loses, which means most of the people in the audience for the service loses. Unfortunately, there are no technological fixes (in the short term) for monopolies. The shumpeterian cycle is too long for the time horizons engendered by the German government's actions or the Exon/Gorton/Hyde language. You have to fight monopolies on the political arena as well as the technical (remember how the WWW was going to liberate all of us on it's own? Until the elites recognized people wouldn't be watching Microsoft ads *conspiratorial wink*.) If I were a compuserve user, complain to your nearest German consulate and call your congresscritter. Those GOP types will have a field day condeming "euro-data-imperialism" during special order speeches on C-SPAN. Support your local ISP. Bill Humphries PS: If only the Germans worried about Nazis during the Nurmemberg trials the way they worry now, maybe they wouldn't be facing their current plauge of nativist/skinhead problems.

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(fwd) DigiCash licencing?
by rah＠shipwright.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

--- begin forwarded text Organization: Digiturg Date: Fri, 29 Dec 1995 17:32:10 +0200 (EET) From: Jyri Kaljundi <jk(a)digit.ee> To: ecash(a)digicash.com Subject: DigiCash licencing Mime-Version: 1.0 Sender: owner-ecash(a)digicash.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: ecash(a)digicash.com Does anyone know about the terms and costs of licencing ecash software? I have tried contacting DigiCash directly with these questions, but have got no answers :( And who and where are already implemeting ecash? Mark Twain Bank and Swedish post are two I know of, what about the others? Our company is very interested in using ecash here in Estonia, but somehow DigiCash does not seem to allow that. With all the best, Juri Kaljundi, managing director, DigiMarket jk(a)digit.ee --- end forwarded text ----------------- Robert Hettinga (rah(a)shipwright.com) e$, 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "Reality is not optional." --Thomas Sowell The NEW(!) e$ Home Page: http://thumper.vmeng.com/pub/rah/ >>>>Phree Phil: Email: zldf(a)clark.net http://www.netresponse.com/zldf <<<<<

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Re: Ecash graphic images?
by shamrock＠netcom.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 20:58 12/28/95, anonymous-remailer(a)shell.portal.com wrote: >Could anyone provide some pointers to a gif or jpeg file containing >good-looking ecash coins? I would like something larger and more >detailed than the "we accept ecash" you see everywhere. Thanks very >much. Try http://www.delorie.com/gif/signs/ -- Lucky Green <mailto:shamrock@netcom.com> PGP encrypted mail preferred.

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Re: HRB Systems Data Storage Encryptor
by Peter Trei 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

James A. Donald wrote: > At 09:45 AM 12/26/95 +0100, Anonymous wrote: > >Check out http://www.hrb.com/encryption/ssp.html, your > >exclusive source of the Ultron Crypto-Engine (tm) > > The web page proudly announces: > "is the only NSA-approved Type I data encryptor available today." > > There are probably some people ignorant enough to regard that as > a recommendation. >James A. Donald What's the problem? If you're a contractor or agency looking to store classified data, the NSA approval is essential. There's no pretence in the ad that the NSA can't read it. It says: "NSA provides necessary keying material for SSP3110 operation." and "It is available to U.S. Government agencies, military organizations, and defense contractors." This is not a snake oil product ala "Power One Time Pad" (sic). It's a real system, approved for use with classified data. I strongly doubt that there are any known holes (with the NSA supplying the key material, why should there be?) Speaking for myself, Peter Trei trei(a)process.com

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Re: another anonymous poster helping to destroy our rights
by E. ALLEN SMITH 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: IN%"vznuri(a)netcom.com" "Vladimir Z. Nuri" 28-DEC-1995 01:36:46.58 >= the list charter can ask for people to submit to various practices on the honor system, such as not using pseudonyms. cryptoanarchists who hate the idea of trust are of course going to object to the honor system, because "that which cannot be enforced should not be prohibited". ---------------- Does this last idea leave much doubt in anyone's mind that "Vladimir Z. Nuri" is a Detweiler tentacle? -Allen

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"Cybercrime" Article from Reuters
by E. ALLEN SMITH 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Most of what they claim to be looking for is stuff that most people won't object to their countering. Still, if anyone spots a government agency offering an "informant" email address, posting it so that we can send them lots of stuff (i.e., all the "Make Money Fast" pyramid schemes) would seem to be a good thing to do... it should occupy them so that they're doing things that are useful. Cypherpunks relevance? Well, there is the mention of anonymnity. -Allen Reuters New Media _ Thursday December 28 6:31 AM EST _ Authorities Patrolling Cyberspace for Crime WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Crime on the Internet is now more than just dirty pictures. With millions of people and a fast-growing commercial presence in cyberspace, federal law enforcement authorities are struggling to crack down on wrongdoing in the new territory. They are hunting for bogus get-rich-quick schemes, weight-loss miracles, AIDS cures, credit-repair programs, investment scams and gambling. That's in addition to crimes such as trafficking in child pornography. ``The scams are the same. The way you investigate them is different,'' said Lucy Morris, assistant director for credit practices at the Federal Trade Commission, which has staff attorneys monitoring the Internet. Just as they would on the street, these ``cybercops'' act on tips or they just patrol. The potential crime scenes are the Internet worldwide computer network, computer online services such as America Online and smaller computer bulletin boards. Cruising cyberspace as part of their work are employees with the FTC, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Secret Service, state attorneys general and state securities regulators. They can work at the office or from home. ``In some respects it's easier to find the violations because you don't have to leave the office,'' said Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Tom Pursell. But there are obstacles. Cyberspace offers criminals wonderful anonymity and law officers face ambiguous jurisdiction issues due to the global nature of the Internet, raising questions about whether new laws are needed to cope with the new medium. ``Now all you need is a computer, a telephone, a little bit of software, and you're in business,'' said Hubert Humphrey III, the attorney general of Minnesota who himself prowls cyberspace in search of wrongdoing. Authorities agree they have their work cut out. ``It's going to be very difficult,'' predicted Humphrey, whose state has been out front in tracking down wrongdoing.

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Telecom Bill Rewrite
by E. ALLEN SMITH 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

It looks like some political pressure will still be possible. Definitely good news, especially since most of the methods for receiving "banned groups" listed in the FAQ are through US sites. -Allen Reuters New Media _ Friday December 29 5:51 AM EST _ Dole, Gingrich Unhappy with Telecom Bill WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Top House and Senate Republican leaders expressed unhappiness Thursday with a proposed rewrite of the nation's communications laws amid signs the Republicans may seek changes in legislation circulating on Capitol Hill. ``There are a number of problems in the bill that could have been resolved in a different way,'' Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole told a news conference. The Kansas Republican, appearing with House Speaker Newt Gingrich, said there are ``three, or four, or five provisions'' GOP leaders ought to focus on, including what he described as a ``giveway'' of a key part of the airwaves to broadcasters. The plan worked out by congressional negotiators proposes that in the future, when the government doles out licenses for high-definition digital TV, the Federal Communications Commission ``should'' limit eligibility to existing broadcasters. Critics have charged this would amount to a multibillion dollar giveaway of the airwaves to the broadcast industry and that the government could instead raise as much as $70 billion through a competitive auction of the digital spectrum. Last week it appeared the White House and congressional leaders had reached agreement on legislation to overhaul the 61-year-old communications laws, following weeks of work by House and Senate negotiators. The plan would tear down decades-old laws and permit telephone, cable and broadcast companies to invade each other's turf. But after Vice President Al Gore and some congressional leaders said they had achieved an accord, other Republicans began to balk at the proposal, saying no deal had been struck. The protests scuttled any chance the telecommunications bill would be completed this year. Among other things, Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with provisions to ease restrictions on the number of TV stations broadcasters could own, saying the plan did not go far enough. They also cited issues such as regulation of the Internet and a decision to drop language permitting greater foreign investment in telecommunications.

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