December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Re: WARNING: sting via remailer!
by nelson＠crynwr.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

[ I see that the original has been forwarded to cypherpunks, so I'll also send my response there. -russ ] Boffo writes: > I was in the federal building coffee shop in Reston, Va. yesterday > when I overheard a conversation between what appeared to be two FBI agents > discussing a sting operation involving Mixmaster. Hearing the word > "mixmaster" naturally caused my ears to perk up and I listened further. > > It appears that the FBI has coerced a mixmaster remailer operator > into cooperating with them in a sting operation to catch remailers when > they forward email pertaining to pornography, pedophilia, and copy-written > software. Uh-oh! I'd better shut down my remailer, but fast, based on an unsubstantiated rumor. Especially one that makes little sense. Why do you need a sting? All you have to do is use a single remailer, and send the mail from yourself, to yourself. You know the source, destination, and who handled it. IF a court can be convinced that forwarding email containing illegal materials is the same as asking to receive email containing illegal materials, then ALL of our butts are toast. > My questions are a) is it possible to perform this type of > monitoring on a mixmaster remailer and, b) what is the identity of the > cooperating remailer operator? > > This concerns me greatly as I use remailers to privatize my > important email regularly and I don't want my identity or my email > compromised because of a "spook in cypherpunks clothing". You fool. If you use remailers regularly, then YOU ARE KNOWN TO THE SPOOKS. Face facts. We know that the FBI spends a minimum of $10,000,000 each year (count the wiretaps, multiply by agents and do the math) just for telephone wiretaps. Computer wiretaps are a LOT CHEAPER. -russ <nelson(a)crynwr.com> http://www.crynwr.com/~nelson Crynwr Software | Crynwr Software sells packet driver support | PGP ok 11 Grant St. | +1 315 268 1925 voice | Flushing, NY. Not just a suburb, Potsdam, NY 13676 | +1 315 268 9201 FAX | it's a good idea in general.

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gondolin.org remailer announcement
by Gondolin Mixmaster Remailer 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Gondolin Technologies is proud to announce our resumption of remailer services to the online community. Some of you may remember the remailer services based at <mixmaster(a)gondolin.org> that was on-line for most of this year. We are now back and better than ever with highly improved hardware and net connections. We are hosting a Type I "Cypherpunks" remailer, as well as a Type II "Mixmaster" remailer at <mix(a)remail.gondolin.org>. The PGP public key for the type I remailer is below: -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6.2 mQCNAzC7/HwAAAEEAKFLOSwJ6FdRb/Z0Yj+RV3inx9aRtrJI+5kXpZTWtcQNo50K qKzRB9joL68jxeQTa4FTOFsWlbsn7dCcOpkOCJqoo4Uby+bIDRP8E5MYGgALVoNh xO6Hucj2Hh1v+koOTvtv4lDWaDdhxN7rPPb8KlTC2FPFIK9/2n7xTkxYcqfxAAUR tDJHb25kb2xpbiBUeXBlIEkgUmVtYWlsZXIgPG1peEByZW1haWwuZ29uZG9saW4u b3JnPokAlQMFEDC+kr2Oh92U+GrHWQEB3s8EAI6+3t59tYB+EWUQDWvSaPNqihab 8lRkctA0gPtOWD3f6nOBcPjIrAoeZ3mB5ASJwPkXGbe6rTGrBo6HuC2t45bscviV O46wKKX6aIJnsCM6vx/vm1aWdm/a5DsBv1BYnnNEedrwFlvzzAhBFtolK1a7i6+N PDnfGlrs9q6U+9LBiQCVAwUQMLv8rPvQGgQ7UJMZAQECYgP9E2riZwFPvNFpKuX9 9JbG4PJGzOm7TAQO1/hIb9BAk7KrLs7yQuTzfQs6hAXB88o1ofIPYp5uz/GvAleg wCGIA3ZnhYh5yiS4UArZbCfr8hDvXsUqQBxR5tfLHj5qOkOejFckIHCRC/8wb23g 3Xu7Zh00PpJAD1EZVfDdhseMXGE= =AJYL -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- The Type II remailer supports posting via mail2news gateways. We are using Mixmaster 2.0.3 from Lance Cottrell. The Type I remailer supports PGP encryption, latent time, hash marks, cutmarks, and so on. Our type I software is John Fleming's Freedom Remailer v1.6beta. Our remailers also utilize a reordering pool. Address any comments, complaints, or concerns to <remailer-admin(a)gondolin.org>. - Bryan Strawser, System/Network Administrator, Gondolin Technologies

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No Privacy Right on "My" Desktop ?
by James M. Cobb 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Friend, A 12 04 95 The Electronic Telegraph newsstory headlined 'Spoilsport' software bars games reports that An American company called DVD has developed a utility called UnGame that can delete up to 3,100 games from a computer network. Even if the game is hidden on the com- puter user's own hard disk, it will find it. The user's own hard disk? Although the machines at work usually belong to the com- pany, most employees regard them as an electronic equi- valent of their desk, and are similarly territorial. John Davison, PC Zone editor, says: If anyone stole something from your desk you'd be fed up. If anybody stole something from my computer, I'd be equal- ly disgusted. What kind of software is UnGame? The newsstory suggests the answer: ...industry experts have complained that companies may be releasing "tailored viruses".... I believe my first post to the list was about McAfee's Virus Blocker. Perhaps that can be...adapted. If so, those who then declared the information had nothing to do with privacy may continue playing their games. Of course companies may try another tack: Oracle's "internet terminal." As dlv(a)bwalk.dm.com pointed out in his 11 18 95 post, [I guess, they mean no permanent storage or software other than the browser in ROM. No remembered state, no viruses ... -DV] In "my" terminal. Cordially, Jim NOTE. The Electronic Telegraph's website URL is: http://www.telegraph.co.uk The newsstory's online filename is: ngame02.htm It was written by: ROBERT UHLIG, TECHNOLOGY CORRESPON- DENT It first appeared in 12 03 95 The Daily Telegraph. The McAfee website URL is: http;//www.mcafee.com

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ZD Net Update v.1 #2
by wwwziff＠internet.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

__________________________________ZD Net Update_______________________________ v. 1 #3 11-27-95 Welcome to ZD Net Update, the free E-mail newsletter created especially for registered users of Ziff-Davis Interactive's ZD Net/World Wide Web edition. ZD Net Update is a bi-weekly bulletin that alerts you to new and exciting developments on ZD Net. In this issue: > COMPUTER LIFE ONLINE PRESENTS THE HOT SITE OF THE DAY > INTRODUCING Q&A WITH PC MAGAZINE'S MICHAEL MILLER > ZD INTERNET LIFE INVITES YOU TO BECOME A WEB REVIEWER > MACUSER ANNOUNCES 11TH ANNUAL EDITORS' CHOICE FINALISTS * * * * * * * * * * COMPUTER LIFE ONLINE PRESENTS THE HOT SITE OF THE DAY The editors at Computer Life Online surf the Net like a bad habit. When they find sites that are hot, fresh, interesting--or just relevant to a healthy computer life--they share the news with everyone here on the Web. Then, before the Site of the Day gets warm, they put it on the "Previously Featured Hot Sites" page and serve up another one. Check these out, and you may be on your way to developing a few bad Net habits of your own: http://www.zdnet.com/~complife/filters/site.html * * * * * * * * * * INTRODUCING Q&A WITH PC MAGAZINE'S MICHAEL MILLER PC Magazine Online (http://www.zdnet.com/~pcmag/) is now giving their readers the opportunity to ask PC Magazine's editor-in-chief, Michael Miller, frank questions regarding the ever-changing state of the computer industry. Every week, this new column will feature questions from readers about a given topic. You can send questions as well as suggestions for topics you'd like to see Miller address in future columns. As Miller puts it: "My print column is really an essay on a particular topic. I try to focus on a broad variety of things, although most my print columns have been Internet-related lately. That's not too much of a surprise, as I've been spending a lot of time working with new tools and content for the Internet. This column will be more conversational. It will give me an opportunity to answer reader questions and address their concerns. In addition, this Q&A will be more timely than my magazine column because it doesn't have to be printed, bound, and mailed." Among Miller's first topics: PC Magazine's 1995 Technical Excellence Awards and reflections on the recent Comdex show. * * * * * * * * * * ZD INTERNET LIFE INVITES YOU TO BECOME A WEB REVIEWER ZD Internet Life (http:/www.zdnet.com/zdil/), the first interactive magazine designed from the ground up around a Web site, wants you to become part of their Web review team. Now you can tell the world what you really think of a Web site. Check out the new "Rate-o-Matic" review tool http://www.zdnet.com/zdil/cgi-bin/review.cgi and see for yourself. Every review enters you in a monthly drawing, and the most astute comments may be included in ZDIL's database. Need some help finding the sites you'd like to review? ZDIL's great new Search capability will give you a lift: http://www.zdnet.com/zdil/cgi-bin/index.pl * * * * * * * * * * MACUSER ANNOUNCES 11TH ANNUAL EDITORS' CHOICE FINALISTS What were the hottest Mac products this year? Find out by perusing MacUser, which has announced the finalists for this year's Editors' Choice Awards: http://www.zdnet.com/~macuser/eddy95/ But that's just the beginning of the story. You are also invited to join the staff on Monday, December 4, when MacUser's Eddy Web Site celebrates its grand opening.This state-of-the-art Web site will feature downloadable product demos, downloadable QuickTime video, RealAudio commentary from editors, links to product reviews published in MacUser, and the 1995 Eddy Awards Sweepstakes. Winners will be announced on Sunday, December 17 in a live ceremony on America Online (Keyword: Eddy95). Information about all the winners will appear on the Eddy Web Site the following day. * * * * * * * * * * ZD Net Update is the official newsletter of ZD Net/World Wide Web Edition. It is compiled by Tom Schmidt (tom_schmidt(a)zd.com) Feel free to respond with any news, notes, comments, or suggestions. To unsubscribe to ZD Net Update, point your browser to: http://www.zdnet.com/cgi-bin/ziffmail.pl/update and select "Unsubscribe to ZD Net Update."

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Re: Info on Netscape's key escrow position
by James M. Cobb 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Blanc, On 12 02 95 you pointed to: ...an underlying problem, which is of not having a sense of freedom to stand up to the Dark Side. You have put your finger on perhaps THE problem: Why did we cast aside our sense of freedom? How may we re-ignite the spirit of freedom? I believe excerpts from a newsstory in today's Electronic Telegraph provide a hint regarding the first question: JOHN Major and Lord Taylor, the Lord Chief Justice, are to have informal talks at No 10 Downing Street in an attempt to avert a deepening rift between Government and judiciary. The meeting has been arranged following concern over the number of adverse court judgments against ministerial de- cisions and mounting opposition by judges to plans by Mi- chael Howard, the Home Secretary, to impose tougher man- datory sentences on habitual criminals. It was being emphasised in Whitehall last night that the in- formal meeting was intended to explore ways of improving relations. It was in no sense an attempt to put pressure on the judges. It emerged last night that Mr Major and Lord Taylor are like- ly to discuss ways of increasing the pay of the judiciary. Senior judges are said to be aggrieved that their salaries have fallen behind. In no sense is one part of the the State putting pressure on another part of the State... Through every sense, the populace is trained to appreciate the justice of not having a sense of freedom to stand up Except at the pay window. Cordially, Jim NOTE The URL of The Electronic Telegraph's website is: http://www.telegraph.co.uk The newsstory's headlined: "Pay and peace talks for judges." Its online filename is: 1judge05.html. It's dated 12 05 95. The story was written by: GEORGE JONES and TERENCE SHAW.

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Re: prototype slot-machine
by Bill Stewart 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 10:23 PM 12/2/95 -0800, sameer wrote: > I've written up a slot-machine thing for ecash, very >experimental, very buggy, not very slick, (i'd like to get the >technical bugs worked out before i put a fancy wrapper on it) and i'd >*like* to announce it here for testing, but I'm worrying about >gambling laws.. > any thoughts? Use the demo digicash; it's not real money, and it's never been illegal to play for poker chips. The mere fact that there's an exchange market for real money vs. digicash play money doesn't change that. It'd be nice if you take small bets, since many of us only have $100 or so of play money; quarters should be fine. To do the job right, you need audio.... #-- # Thanks; Bill # Bill Stewart, Freelance Information Architect, stewarts(a)ix.netcom.com # Phone +1-510-247-0663 Pager/Voicemail 1-408-787-1281 # Anybody notice that Microsoft's Wide Open Road ad has barbed-wire fences # on both sides of the road?

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Re: Meeting notes from ANSI X.9 Meeting on Electronic Payment
by rah＠shipwright.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

> It doesn't appear that these people seem to care about >cash-like anonymous token-based payment schemes. Is that a valid >assesment? What is needed to make these people start caring about >that? My guess is, they won't. Ever. <Elmer Gantry Mode On> We're looking right into the maw of the beast, here, folks. This is how book-entry systems want to rule the world. It seems to me that all this X.BlaBla stuff is about interlocking directories, offsetting book-entries and audit trails back to the flood, so that if you break a trade, much less evade taxes or engage in other horsemanlike behavior, they can sic the Lawfully Deputed Authorities to slam you in the pokey. <Elmer Gantry Mode Off> Code words for this bunch include "non-repudiation", "Certification Authorities", "X.Whatever", and of course "information infrastructure", and is done usually in concert with, well, lawyers. Michael Froomkin has had some experience with these types already this month, and my anonmyous informant, "Erwin Corey" , the world's foremost authority, is in the thick of these things. I just got some mail from someone over at bnn who gave me the following argument, just to show how they think: 1. If we use internet-level (ISP) or link-level (SSL,etc) strong cryptography, governments can't keep an eye on the 4 horsemen, who would then rule the world, and the government needs to save us from that. 2. If we just use encryption for the "little" stuff, like credit card numbers, and signatures, and wire authorization codes, and the like, the Powers that Be will let us play with money on the internet. 3. So, go back to your sandbox boy, and let the adults get on with the Important Stuff, okay? Actually, argument #3 is implicit in all of this, but that's okay. Here's why. As one cursed with hyper-analogizing the universe, I see the X.whatever crowd as centralized surface transport, viz: Railroads and Ships. We're in the car and plane business, point-to-point, autonomously operated by the users of the technology for whatever they want to do. The time is, say, 1910. They look up in the sky at the airplanes rattling around, or they jump out of the way of a Model T clattering down the street, and they mutter, "let the adults get on with the Important Stuff". Cool. What they really don't understand is that the internal combustion engine of internetwork commerce, digital bearer certificate technology, is about to rock their world. The thing I hear over and over from these people is, "We just want to map all this great experience we have with the Law of Commerce onto the Information Superhighway, so we won't have to reinvent the wheel." They can't understand why *anyone* would want to remain anonymous. They can't imagine the benefits of uncontrolled autonomous agents, buying or selling things, (including themselves) in a global ecology of networks and silicon. Just like the transportation magnates of the turn of the century couldn't understand why someone wouldn't use a steam engine, because they're much more efficient thermodynamically than any internal combustion engine could ever be. The technology lends itself to economies of scale, and, well, it's lest wasteful that way. This is why J.Pierpont Morgan made a fortune consolidating railroads and steel companies. These people are just victims of their own success, really. They are the end products of years of meritocratic selection, schooling, and certification. They have been practically bred to inhabit the top of hierarchies. So, when they look at the internet, they can see nothing else but what they know. They see something like digital cash an anomaly, an error in the data, because even with a completely on-line system and Mark Twain Bank walking very gingerly on the thin ice of new economic technology, MTB's cost on a Digicash trade is $.50, while the most efficient book-entry system on the net, First Virtual, has to charge, what? $5.00 to break even? Wait until we can actually trust off-line payment schemes for *really* small stuff, and get profits from issuing nano-money. They don't get it. The network isn't a hierarchy. The network is a geodesic. You don't need offsetting book entries, you can trade digital certificates much cheaper. You don't need to control your software, you need to make it autonomous and set it free. Cheers, Bob Hettinga ----------------- Robert Hettinga (rah(a)shipwright.com) e$, 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA (617) 958-3971 "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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[Mix-L] WARNING: sting via remailer! (fwd)
by Bryan Strawser 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Forwarded message: > From owner-mix-l(a)alpha.jpunix.com Tue Dec 5 09:03:10 1995 > Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 07:55:21 -0600 (CST) > Message-Id: <199512051355.HAA12202(a)alpha.jpunix.com> > To: mix-l(a)vishnu.alias.net, remailer-operators(a)c2.org, > mail2news(a)utopia.hacktic.nl > Newsgroups: alt.privacy, alt.privacy.anon-server, alt.security > From: "Mr. Boffo" <mixmaster(a)vishnu.alias.net> > X-Comment1: This message did not originate from the > X-Comment2: above address. It was automatically remailed > X-Comment3: by an anonymous mail service. Please report > X-Comment4: problems or inappropriate use to > X-Comment5: <complaints(a)vishnu.alias.net> > Subject: [Mix-L] WARNING: sting via remailer! > Sender: owner-mix-l(a)jpunix.com > Precedence: bulk > > I was in the federal building coffee shop in Reston, Va. yesterday > when I overheard a conversation between what appeared to be two FBI agents > discussing a sting operation involving Mixmaster. Hearing the word > "mixmaster" naturally caused my ears to perk up and I listened further. > > It appears that the FBI has coerced a mixmaster remailer operator > into cooperating with them in a sting operation to catch remailers when > they forward email pertaining to pornography, pedophilia, and copy-written > software. > > My questions are a) is it possible to perform this type of > monitoring on a mixmaster remailer and, b) what is the identity of the > cooperating remailer operator? > > This concerns me greatly as I use remailers to privatize my > important email regularly and I don't want my identity or my email > compromised because of a "spook in cypherpunks clothing". > -- Bryan Strawser, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA Remember Waco bstrawse(a)indiana.edu http://copper.ucs.indiana.edu/~bstrawse

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Java musings
by Mark Hittinger 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I was starting to feel as if Java was going to be everything the hype was cracking it up to be. Then I saw Micro$oft jump on the Java bandwagon. Could Java already be dead? :-) Regards, Mark Hittinger Netcom/Dallas bugs(a)freebsd.netcom.com bugs(a)ritz.mordor.com

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Re: DigiCash releases protocol specs!
by Andrew Loewenstern 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

> By popular request, DigiCash is releasing the protocol specs. Three cheers to DigiCash, Mark Twain, and Lucky! andrew

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