December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Mainframe solutions
by Roger J. Jones 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Having looked at this path I suggest that the article is misleading. No one moves SAP to a mainframe. What you do is move the DBMS from Oracle under UNIX (the normal implementation for 1000 concurrent users or less) to Oracle or more likely DB2 on the mainframe. Also curious about how mainframe security is 2 years ahead of Unix and/or NT. There is almost no security on a mainframe unless you add a package such as ACF2 or TopSecret. Neither are easy to administer, easy to audit, nor do either have anything to do with application security. They monitor use of files, terminals and the like. As far as I know, there is no package that can intercept the PSW being returned after a system call in the System (vice User) state. (Being in system state on a mainframe is like being root in UNIX) I assure you that in the millions of lines of code, much over 25 years old, in the typical mainframe operating system you don't have to wait long for the "right word"

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Congress getting involved in crypto this year
by Declan McCullagh 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I'm in the CFP computer room listening to CDT's Alan Davidson finish his comments on a panel discussion about crypto: "Congress is getting involved in the crypto debate. Bad things may happen, good things may happen. It depends on all of you." Anyone want to bet on the possibility of Congress doing a "good thing" on crypto? Remember, there's no bill being considered in either house of the Congress that does *not* have domestic controls on encryption: the crypto-in-a-crime penalties. Now Jason Mahler, from the Office of Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif), is speaking. He stressed that the House Commerce committee "resoundingly" voted down the FBI's bill last September -- but neglected to say that the panel approved included a *doubling* of crypto-in-a-crime penalties. He says Lofgren's plans are to push crypto legislation this year: "Hopefully if we get it [passed] in the House in the spring we'll move to the Senate." What about a presidential veto? "We're going to put pressure on the administration." Now Mahler is talking about how much support the SAFE bill has in the House (yes, the version of SAFE with crypto-in-a-crime penalties) and how it's a good thing. True, a majority of members of the House were at one point cosponsors. But this is a misguided way to look at the situation. Some of these "cosponsors" and "crypto supporters" voted for the FBI's bill. Others, like the late Sonny Bono, ended up speaking out against it. Lobbyists are about to find out that the support for crypto freedom in the Congress is wide but very, very shallow. -Declan

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No Subject
by Anonymous 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Lately, anonymous messages sent to the list with Replay's Web-based remailer have not been getting through - anyone know if one or more of these remailers (efga, replay, ml, obscura, cypherpunks.ca) are down? In case my last message doesn't get through, I'm looking for info on how one can create and use a persistent Nym. I looked and can't find info on how to do this anywhere (besides the creation of a "free" email account somewhere). Can any cypherpunks help? Thank you.

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What are the "Soft Targets"?
by Tim May 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Someone asked me what I meant by "soft targets," and what specifically some of them are. I won't provide a list here, lest I be tarred by the same "guilt by association" brush the Las Vegans are facing in the media. ("The Army found a map of the New York City subway system." Thoughtcrime.) A "soft target" is a target of opportunity that is both: -- almost impossible to defend and -- valuable for publicity purposes if attacked Traditionally, examples have been public squares, train stations, hotel , etc. When U.S.-sponsored terrorists blew up the Balogna, Italy train station, they knew this would generate massive fear and backlashes against the Left (whom the U.S. supported terrorists were pretending to represent...cf. the info on Lucio Gelli, the strategy of tension, the P2 Lodge, Stefano Delle Chiaie, etc.). And when the Jewish terrorists in Palestine wanted to make a point, they bombed the King David Hotel. In the U.S., soft targets abound. These would typically be crowded, downtown areas any of the 30 or 50 largest cities, but also various tourist attractions and government facilities (though government facilities tend to be "harder" targets, and so less likely). With aerosol weapons, subways and indoor locations are more likely to be targets. Use your own judgment, but I choose to avoid any of the various soft targets near me. -Tim May Just Say No to "Big Brother Inside" ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, ComSec 3DES: 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^3,021,377 | black markets, collapse of governments.

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TechNet on Feinstein, SF Chron article, and encryption
by Declan McCullagh 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 12:58:17 -0800 (PST) From: Declan McCullagh <declan(a)well.com> To: politech(a)vorlon.mit.edu Subject: TechNet on Feinstein, SF Chron article, and encryption This in response to these comments in the SF Chron article, sent in a sep. message: >Wade Randlett, a Democratic Leadership Council activist who advises >TechNet, said Feinstein's ``detractors are narrow- minded and hung up on >her stance on encryption. If you look at any broad sweep, she is as big a >champion for Silicon Valley as anyone in the U.S. Senate.'' -Declan ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 12:43:14 -0800 From: "Garrett, Sean" <sgarrett(a)alexander-pr.com> To: "'declan(a)well.com'" <declan(a)well.com> Subject: Feinstein & Internet Policy Declan: Below is the awaited article about Senator Feinstein and Internet policy. I also want to make sure that TechNet's position on the encryption debate is clear. While encryption regulations are not the only major issue facing the industry, we recognize that they are extremely important to many (including most of TechNet's members). While TechNet as an organization is not playing a role in the debate, we believe the dialogue that we facilitate between tech CEOs and public officials will help further all of our collective goals-including the industry's domestic and export crypto goals. Regarding Senator Feinstein, we hope that future meetings between her and the industry are productive on encryption and other important issues. We do wholeheartedly appreciate the Senator's leadership with education and securities litigation reform-TechNet's two policy goals. Best, Sean Garrett Alexander Communications (representing the Technology Network) Sgarrett(a)alexandercom.com

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Re: Anthrax--The Horsemen are Riding
by Anonymous 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Yet another wrong call by Tim "Chicken Little" May: >CNN is reporting a news flash, with few details, about two men being >arrested in Las Vegas for making or possessing or planning to make >anthrax. Details should be emerging, but I have a hunch it's a witch >hunt, an invocation of the Four Horsement, to drum up support for >Clinton's Dirty Little War. Nonsense. This has nothing to do with Saddam. These men are from the Aryan Nation, a militia group (and one which Tim secretly supports, being a strong believer in Aryan superiority). No wonder he is upset, when his favorite racists are shown to be just another bunch of terrorists, willing to kill innocents to promote their hate-filled cause. >"Find us some jimbells we can show to the American public as proof that >an undeclared, unsupported war with Iraq is justified." How incoherent can you get? How on earth can terrorism by the militias be related to the war in Iraq? Jeez, what an idiot. >Wanna bet they also bring crypto in this media circus? This would be funny if it weren't so sad. And you guys really _respect_ someone who would write this nonsense? It's a sad story when the one who is supposed to be the brains of the group is this stupid.

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RE: Anthrax--The Horsemen are Riding (fwd)
by Jim Choate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Forwarded message: > From: Ernest Hua <Hua(a)teralogic-inc.com> > Subject: RE: Anthrax--The Horsemen are Riding > Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 14:51:32 -0800 > The real issue is why NOW? It's just a bit coincidental, don't you > think, that someone so blatantly advertises his intimate relationships > with biological weapons for years is just now suddenly being arrested? > In politics, timing is everything. > > I am not the least bit sorry for this guy if he really possessed > anything, but I'm just a bit skeptical that this is just another routine > domestic terrorism arrest. There is one other potential reason why 'now'. The guy doing the deed figured it was a prime time to strike. ____________________________________________________________________ | | | When a man assumes a public trust, he should | | consider himself public property. | | | | Thomas Jefferson | | | | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http://www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage(a)ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|

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RE: Anthrax--The Horsemen are Riding
by Ernest Hua 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Relax ... Tim is not condoning this guy's behavior. The real issue is why NOW? It's just a bit coincidental, don't you think, that someone so blatantly advertises his intimate relationships with biological weapons for years is just now suddenly being arrested? In politics, timing is everything. I am not the least bit sorry for this guy if he really possessed anything, but I'm just a bit skeptical that this is just another routine domestic terrorism arrest. Ern -----Original Message----- From: Anonymous [SMTP:nobody@REPLAY.COM] Sent: Thursday, February 19, 1998 1:35 PM To: cypherpunks(a)cyberpass.net Subject: Re: Anthrax--The Horsemen are Riding Yet another wrong call by Tim "Chicken Little" May: >CNN is reporting a news flash, with few details, about two men being >arrested in Las Vegas for making or possessing or planning to make >anthrax. Details should be emerging, but I have a hunch it's a witch >hunt, an invocation of the Four Horsement, to drum up support for >Clinton's Dirty Little War. Nonsense. This has nothing to do with Saddam. These men are from the Aryan Nation, a militia group (and one which Tim secretly supports, being a strong believer in Aryan superiority). No wonder he is upset, when his favorite racists are shown to be just another bunch of terrorists, willing to kill innocents to promote their hate-filled cause. >"Find us some jimbells we can show to the American public as proof that >an undeclared, unsupported war with Iraq is justified." How incoherent can you get? How on earth can terrorism by the militias be related to the war in Iraq? Jeez, what an idiot. >Wanna bet they also bring crypto in this media circus? This would be funny if it weren't so sad. And you guys really _respect_ someone who would write this nonsense? It's a sad story when the one who is supposed to be the brains of the group is this stupid.

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RE: Anthrax--The Horsemen are Riding (fwd)
by Ernest Hua 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

If the guy was after visibility, yes, then I would agree with you (re: "prime time"). Of course, it could also just be monumental stupidity on his timing (to confirm the FBI's "dumb criminal" model). Ern -----Original Message----- From: Jim Choate [SMTP:ravage@ssz.com] Sent: Thursday, February 19, 1998 3:18 PM To: cypherpunks(a)ssz.com Subject: RE: Anthrax--The Horsemen are Riding (fwd) Forwarded message: > From: Ernest Hua <Hua(a)teralogic-inc.com> > Subject: RE: Anthrax--The Horsemen are Riding > Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 14:51:32 -0800 > The real issue is why NOW? It's just a bit coincidental, don't you > think, that someone so blatantly advertises his intimate relationships > with biological weapons for years is just now suddenly being arrested? > In politics, timing is everything. > > I am not the least bit sorry for this guy if he really possessed > anything, but I'm just a bit skeptical that this is just another routine > domestic terrorism arrest. There is one other potential reason why 'now'. The guy doing the deed figured it was a prime time to strike. ____________________________________________________________________ | | | When a man assumes a public trust, he should | | consider himself public property. | | | | Thomas Jefferson | | | | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http://www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage(a)ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|

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RE: Anthrax--The Horsemen are Riding (fwd)
by Jim Choate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Forwarded message: > From: Ernest Hua <Hua(a)teralogic-inc.com> > Subject: RE: Anthrax--The Horsemen are Riding (fwd) > Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 15:26:38 -0800 > If the guy was after visibility, yes, then I would agree with you (re: > "prime time"). > > Of course, it could also just be monumental stupidity on his timing (to > confirm the FBI's "dumb criminal" model). The point I was thinking of was that such a timing would be when the country as a whole was distracted with over-seas events. Since they were Aryan Nation related, as I understand it, the goal was probably to further their white supremacy agenda. An attack on some 'hood would cause a civil uproar between blacks and whites that could have a impact of some importance. The result of that could be quite pervasive. ____________________________________________________________________ | | | When a man assumes a public trust, he should | | consider himself public property. | | | | Thomas Jefferson | | | | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http://www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage(a)ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|

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