December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Hey, we are quaint! (Was: A Sign of the Future)
by Bill.Humphries＠msn.fullfeed.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Steve Levy replied to Alex Strasheim over an alledged 'plot' to discredit cypherpunks at Wired Magazine: >Give me a break. I do not work for Wired but I write for them at times, >and most often my subject is crypto related. [...] >On Mon, 5 Feb 1996, Alex Strasheim wrote [citing Gary Wolf 'channeling >McLuhan']: > >> > Concerns about privacy and anonymity are outdated. Cypherpunks >> > think they are rebels with a cause, but they are really senti- >> > mentalists. >> >> I'm not much for big conspiracy theories, but I like the little ones. <rant> Hey folks, we are quaint Jeffersonians for the most part here. We believe that reasoned arguement should carry the day instead of FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt). And that privacy is a good thing. Whereas modern, marketing driven media (as described by McLuhan) will use FUD and whatever else it takes to deliver an audience. Ask any of the people who have been publicly tarred as Nazi's for their involvement over the Zundel/Hollow Earth/webcom business. Wolf's portrayal of McLuhan is spot on, because media producers who give a damn about anonymity and privacy aren't going to land the big contracts. The money to buy bandwidth and servers wants the highest quality data availiable so we can be coerced to spend every minute we aren't working, commuting, sleeping, or fornicating (was f*cking before the CDA) as 'consumers.' And many people aren't going to think of these issues, not because they are dumb, but because they are so busy working to provide for their families to spend any time in the reflective/meditative state required to make political choices. I suggest that Cypherpunks add one more slogan to their list: "Cypherpunks teach." Because no one is going to invest in the time and effort to use PGP, remailers, and blind web proxies unless they understand why they should. I'm going to invest in the time to show my family and friends why these technologies are important so when I mention PGP to someone they'll have something other than the soundbite "only Nazis use strong encryption" to fall back on. </rant> bill.humphries(a)msn.fullfeed.com "The more you know, the more jokes you get" -- Tompkins and Kaufman

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Re: free speech and the government
by Alan Olsen 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 09:25 PM 2/4/96 +0000, Stephan Mohr wrote: >Actually, I am glad that the whole story started over some neo-nazi stuff >and not a recipe to easily make a very potent poison. For some strange reason, people believe it is difficult to find information on such things. I picked up my copy of _Poisons and Poisoners_ by C. J. S. Thompson at Barnes and Noble in the discount section for $9.98. Books on the topic can also be picked up in bookstores catering to Murder Mystery fans. (Some excelent descriptions of esoteric poisons can be derived from these books.) "Forbidden" information is hard to forbid with the existance of the printing press. Electronic networks make the information even more available. Are you suggesting that we burn all the books with "dangerous" information? And who's definition of "danger" do we take? Yours? Mine? The National Council of Churches? Crypto relevence: Some people regard the ability to hide "dangerous" information to be as "dangerous" as the information hidden. Freedom of Speech includes the right to choose who can listen to that speech. Alan Olsen -- alano(a)teleport.com -- Contract Web Design & Instruction `finger -l alano(a)teleport.com` for PGP 2.6.2 key http://www.teleport.com/~alano/ Is the operating system half NT or half full?

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No Subject
by karl.ike＠sihope.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Attila: I'm not in the business of running or hiding. I'm just an average, everyday working guy that doesn't like credit reporting agencies, what they stand for or what they do for money. I didn't say that I was going to do this. I just had the idea! I don't have the knowledge or the money to spend. That doesn't mean that there is someone out there that would jump at the idea. I just don't like the idea that these assholes know more about me than my mother and sell my private and personal information to anyone for big bucks. My credit is fine, just ask my banker or better yet, my mom. I am assumming that you know far more people on the internet since I have only been on for a month and have done three e-mail. I'm just suggesting to get the idea out and someone will take the ball and run. Yes, they will be a hunted man, but not a US citizen. Someone out there with a laptop and a cellular, living on a cruise ship, just may enjoy the idea. Just me, Karl

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Likely application for high-bandwidth proxies (fwd)
by lmccarth＠cs.umass.edu 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

It would appear that a potentially very popular application for high- bandwidth anonymizing proxies has arrived: Forwarded message from list-managers-digest: > From: Project Genesis <genesis(a)j51.com> > Date: Mon, 05 Feb 1996 02:42:13 -0500 > Subject: Speaking of spams... > > Did I mention that Project Genesis is an organization specializing in > religious education? The message below explains why all of our public lists > are moderated. I value privacy and have grave doubts about things like the > Exon amendment (which may make Internet providers liable), but I also think > that we need to ensure that the Internet not become one big red-light > district. Spams like this are a step in the wrong direction. It hit several > of our religion-oriented lists. > > Ken > > >Sender: kristina(a)free.org [User Unknown - I told her to go away.] > >Subject: LIVE NUDE VIDEOCONFERENCING! > > > >Hi, > >My name is Kristina. I'm a nude model and I'd > >love to take my clothes off and entertain you. > >You can watch me live and in color on your > >computer. We can type back and forth and I'll > >be happy to perform your erotic fantasy. If > >this sounds like fun, visit the website and > >download the software. The address is > >http://www.[I don't plan to help them].com or you can get the > >software from the BBS at 815-[ditto]. I'll > >turn the camera on in my studio and wait to > >hear from you. I think you'll like what I have > >to show you. This isn't a movie...you make a > >request and I'll probably fulfill it for you. > >Look for my picture on the Website. Hope to > >see you soon! > > > >Love, > >Kristina

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Re: Encryption and Backups
by Robert A. Rosenberg 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 20:33 2/4/96, John Pettitt wrote: >On Sun, 4 Feb 1996, Alan Olsen wrote: > >> Something that I have not seen addressed is the need for strong encryption >> in backup software. >> >> Most backup software has an "encryption" option, but I have seen few that >> have anything resembling strong encryption. Furthermore, I have seen no >> real push for strong encryption for backups at all. >> ... >> Might be an idea for a product there... (And you can bet law enforcement >> would throw a hissy fit about its existence.) >> >CP Backup (part of PC Tools for Central Point aka Symantec) has DES. As to >how good the implementation is: I have no idea. Retrospect (a Mac Tape/Floppy Backup Utility) also has an Encryption Option I think.

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Release of Pronto Secure first Beta
by geoff klein 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

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RE: [NOISE] Futplex makes the news!
by A. Padgett Peterson, P.E. Information Security 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

OK, I give up. Took off the head phones connected to the TO, went downstairs, set the V-15 Type II on the Dual 1019 to 7/8 gm. Patched to the Pioneer 1500TD amp feeding front AR-5's and rear AR-2ax's, cranked to "pain" and spun some vinyl. "Freedom's just anotha' word foa nothin' left to lose." - Janis Joplin & Full Tilt Boogie Band, Columbia PC 32168 (first one I found in the pile - believe the original was on a album with her standing spraddlelegged with the big grin - is here *somewhere*. Credit on th record was K. Kristofferson and F. Foster. (Had to go downstairs, contrary to popular belief, everything is not in my den 8*). warmly, Padgett

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Songs, Janis, Left to Lose, and Salinas
by tcmay＠got.net 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 12:57 AM 2/5/96, "A. Padgett Peterson, P.E. Information Security" <PADGETT@hobbe wrote: >OK, I give up. Took off the head phones connected to the TO, went downstairs, >set the V-15 Type II on the Dual 1019 to 7/8 gm. Patched to the Pioneer 1500TD >amp feeding front AR-5's and rear AR-2ax's, cranked to "pain" and spun some >vinyl. You might want to explain to the GenXers what "vinyl" is. >"Freedom's just anotha' word foa nothin' left to lose." - Janis Joplin & >Full Tilt Boogie Band, Columbia PC 32168 (first one I found in the pile - >believe the original was on a album with her standing spraddlelegged with >the big grin - is here *somewhere*. Credit on th record was K. Kristofferson >and F. Foster. (Had to go downstairs, contrary to popular belief, everything >is not in my den 8*). Speaking of this song, I live "near Salinas." --Tim Boycott espionage-enabled software! We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, we know that that ain't allowed. ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay(a)got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^756839 - 1 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."

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Indecent Trash
by nobody＠REPLAY.COM 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- On 10 Jan 96 at 10:42, t byfield wrote: > At 10:26 PM 1/9/96, Alexander 'Sasha' Chislenko wrote: > > >- Landfills: They are probably the richest source of detailed > > historical information that is not obtainable from any > > other source and can be used to reconstruct the detailed > > history of society, economy, technology and any single > > person with incredible detail. > I ain't holding my breath until someone develops a search > engine for Fresh Kills. I can see it now... about the time that Grandson of Altavista finally yields a URL for Jimmy Hoffa's body in some dump somewhere the government will have figured out that it's so much simpler to catalog the stuff on the way IN, when all the artifacts are fresh and unmixed. While we're all watching what the government does to intercept packets, they will be routing *trash* packets through mysterious "garbage routers." As the stink grows stronger, someone will conceive of anonymous trash forwarders. They will accept unidentified trash, no questions asked, anonymize it with random DNA and fingerprint whorls, and sneak it into public trash receptacles. DNA generators will enable the mischievous to plant fabricated indications that Hillary did indeed have something going with Vince, the late Khomeini (hey, hard is hard, right?) as well as legions of four-footed friends, confirming the suspicions of multitudes. As the piles of trash-based data grow, some Senator from Nebraska will sound the alarm that kids are too easily exposed to the indecent signs of private behavior retrievable on the Net and will propose draconian measures to hold everyone responsible for their contributions to the city landfill. Public receptacles will be closed. Trash will only be collected from registered Identifed Surplus Providers (ISP's). $250,000 fine for disposing of a condom in a dump accessible from the Internet... 10 years in prison for carelessly tossing those nasty Polaroids in the kitchen compactor. The trash of the world will have to be made safe for kids to view. Everything will be a lot easier to trace and control if the garbage input is fully identified. Barcodes on trash bags might do for starters. Access to the garbage system might have to be restricted to those 18 and over. Trash collectors could be made responsible for content, drafting them without pay into the ranks of the trash police. People could be encouraged to report suspicious trash, and trash-related activities like neighbors sneaking out at night to place an innocent-looking compactor bag down the block with someone else's trash. For their own protection, youngsters might be required to retain all their garbage until age 18 and then, in a solemn ceremony worthy of the true significance of coming of age, pitch it all (duly anonymized to prevent abuse of minor indiscretions) from their new position as lawful participants in the world garbage system, friends and well-wishers trying to applaud and hold their noses at the same time (try it -- if you're not careful you can break your own nose, but hey, that'll work, too!). Who knows? Maybe Heinlein's advocacy of keeping kids in a barrel and feeding them through a hole until age 18 will enjoy resurgence among the compulsively protective while the Web meanwhile will provide real time underground data on Heinlein's rpm rate. Protecting the trash of youth will, however, give rise to the hiding of adult trash among that of the underaged. The government will have to root out offenders and "impute" suspicious trash to the parents. Those with no visible source of trash will of course be suspect, and will have to emit innocent trash to cover themselves. This will give rise to the practice of "trash laundering," in which agents convert nasty trash to innocuous trash that may then be tossed into any monitored, controlled channels with no repercussions. Trash laundering will become a grave offense to the accompaniment of government and Ad Council PSA's and free brochures from Pueblo, Colorado. Blatant offenders who have fled to foreign climes will be kidnapped, some will be tortured, because the War Against Filth will be a moral commitment of the national body. Foreign governments headed by suspected trash traffickers will be toppled in quickie invasions, their leaders brought back in chains to disappear into federal dungeons. Public debate will center on the legalities and rationalizations of using the military in policing domestic trash, while agencies such as the FBI cry for more budget to fight the scourge that threatens the decency of the nation's repositories. Control of trash will spread inevitably to control of liquid wastes, whereupon a terrible discovery will be made: Everyone, but everyone, emits unspeakable bodily products. At that point the government will have no choice but to reluctantly declare everyone an outlaw and execute the populace. It's all as logical as what happens when you introduce division by zero way down at the bottom of the complex equation where it isn't so noticeable. We Jurgar Din (that will have to suffice: I do not yet live in a free country) +"The battle, Sir, is not to the strong alone. It is to the+ +vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, Sir, we have no + +election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now + +too late to retire from the contest." -Patrick Henry 1775 + -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQBVAwUBMPS/PEjw99YhtpnhAQH1UQH5AdXBd7AvG6xT7x/cTXf5W1cAUXzoJ+GB N0/SPrdoJnbUSN5LkJDwoVwA/eiL6/LVN9CjtmQwmydyBysM7M/7Xw== =q+CF -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: verification of randomness
by jim bell 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- At 03:57 AM 2/5/96 +0100, Andreas Bogk wrote: >I've built a random number generator based on the noise of a Zener >diode. Now I'd like to verify it's correct operation. I'd be very >grateful if someone could point me to existing software for randomness >tests or additional tests not mentioned in Knuth. >I'll make the design of the generator available as soon as I've >verified it's operation. >Andreas Excellent! Sounds like a worthwhile project. If you have an email mailing list, put me on it please. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBMRWRnvqHVDBboB2dAQFgWwQAlgxpZ1Bx21HRU39ikFUKBFoewtfjVzcD zwOjkf5IXyITNV1IZmwmbIyzVmu1ndWr4NHhZZhxD9jCyzC6qFqvED/7Zye4vUdV XkcTDIBqqa334Awm7dsDMwvC2GKhHbCLIcZSI7gXBf/5C3V42EKdvi18Bqn9cs5M vJ0OnN93iBY= =MmWv -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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