December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

"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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Re: CAV_ein
by roy＠sendai.cybrspc.mn.org 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- [ kudos once again to John Young for making the NYT material available] > The New York Times, December 29, 1995, pp. A1, D4. > > On-Line Service Blocks Access To Topics Called Pornographic > > Complaint by Germany Has Worldwide Impact > > By John Markoff [big snip] > "In the future, every Internet operator will be subject to > local laws," said Eric Schmidt, chief technology officer > for Sun Microsystems Inc., a Mountain View, Calif., > computer maker. "And software will be developed to provide > the appropriate local censorship." Ick. There's some truth in the first quoted sentence, but I fail to see any censorship as "appropriate". Does Mr. Schmidt swing much weight in Sun's policy department? - -- Roy M. Silvernail [ ] roy(a)cybrspc.mn.org PGP Public Key fingerprint = 31 86 EC B9 DB 76 A7 54 13 0B 6A 6B CC 09 18 B6 Key available from pubkey(a)cybrspc.mn.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQEVAwUBMORMg2Cl9Uka85MxAQErqgf/Wx/Ai7EUSv1QpipAAtsEDLbos/aH+INT mA8+hF6PIyONHjwxsz24L5+c7ZcmiwshmH4pJpI/l1b9H9Wz/O/aKG+QqOr7hTtY By/yU2M5s9y7ZJ1rn4coasx/J4ar/SNLgxFNPV+buL5v3UFLzmmUwWzryCH6pIkB 5PShfQ1BqD7MI4juwKjWGw+fgZraJfScb2zKYk01E6brFPObNGdMAZ0P8lFqtkub VdYyAneCtc+F6xeU5lRSGhysJWE+PwkwgKKhQX6h1zwMlhLQXX5t1kSnsezzqPzZ /C+Bgt2BGQYPoDH9Gpc8GXQENpDRx3Lh8dhlNDlNAEDxKva03Ij30A== =RLCm -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Massey, CEO of Compuserve, on Internet
by tcmay＠got.net 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Wow! I am watching the CEO of Compuserve being interviewed on CNBC, explaining how his company is "taking the high road by complying with the laws of Germany" in removing access to 200 Usenet groups. So, what happens with Saudi Arabia announces that Christian and Jewish newsgroups violate their laws (I don't know this for sure, but I know that Jewish and Christian temples and churches are strictly verboten in Saudi Arabia). And, think of the many countries which ban homosexuality, and so on. An amazing cave. Massey seems to think that all of the other large ISPs will fall in line and remove "illegal" newsgroups (illegal in any country in which they have account holders). I wrote a longer post on the issues last night, so I won't repeat those points. --Tim May 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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Housewarming/birthday party
by lstewart 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

You're invited to celebrate Laura and Bill's New Home Bill's Birthday and anything else you'd like to celebrate! Date: Saturday, January 13 Time: 5:00pm (or whenever) Putative location: 2040 Rock Ave. #22, Mountain View, CA RSVP (acceptances): lstewart(a)prisminc.com, or Laura Stewart at work: 408-744-3359. What to bring: If you RSVP by Jan 12, don't bring anything! We'll provide something resembling dinner. If you don't RSVP, bring food or drink. You are welcome to bring your family or other guests, but please do not forward this invitation to other mail lists. Smoking is prohibited, laptop computers tolerated, board games warmly encouraged. How to get there (all directions are written as if 101 really went north and south): HOW TO FIND THE APARTMENT The address is 2040 W. Middlefield #22, but ignore that fact. It is much easier to find if you firmly believe that the address is 2040 Rock Ave. #22. From the corner of Rock & Rengstorff, follow the big lighted "2040" numbers along Rock. Just after the second driveway on Rock you will find a walkway into the complex...follow the walkway to #19, then climb the stairs to #22. HOW TO FIND THE CORNER OF ROCK & RENGSTORFF Cypherpunks: From La Castena (the burrito place), just go one block "west" on Rengstorff. From Highway 101 southbound: Take Rengstorff exit, which makes a 180-degree loop. Turn left onto Rengstorff westbound (away from the bay, toward the ocean). One block after Old Middlefield (and one block before Middlefield), turn left on Rock Ave and park on Rock. See above to find the apartment. From Highway 101 northbound: Ignore the Middlefield exit. Take Rengstorff exit, which makes a 270-degree loop and merges onto Rengstorff westbound (away from the bay, toward the ocean). One block after Old Middlefield (and one block before Middlefield), turn left on Rock Ave. and park on Rock. See above to find the apartment. From 680 at Dunbarton exit: Taking the Dunbarton bridge to 101 is a few minutes faster, but it's easy to get lost between the bridge and 101. Unless you're familiar with the area, we recommend taking 680 to 237, west on 237 to 101, and north on 101 to the Rengstorff exit, which makes a 270-degree loop and merges onto Rengstorff westbound (away from the bay, toward the ocean). One block after Old Middlefield (and one block before Middlefield), turn left on Rock Ave. and park on Rock. See above to find the apartment. Further complications..er, clarifications: Rock Ave. and Rock St. are the same thing. Middlefield Road and Old Middlefield Road are two different things. Middlefield Rock Old Middlefield 101 ^ | | | | | | | | | "North" | | | | the | | | | bay Rengstorff----------------------------------------------------- | _______ | | | | [ 2 ]| |La | | [ 0 ]| |Castena | | [ 4 ]| | | | [ 0 ]| | | | [_______]| | | | #22 | | | | | | | | | | | Lost on the day of the party? Call us at home: 415-938-1697. The price of condo living: There is no guest parking in the complex, and the party must end by 10pm. Please help us get along with our new neighbors by respecting the condo rules. Thanks!

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CHU_chu Search Engines, Branded Communities
by John Young 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

12-29-95. FinTimes: "Engine of the superhighway" muses on search engines and branded communities, and how their convergence will barb-wire lecher Tio Web from wild-legger Tia Juana. CHU_chu

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Re: Chinese Cypherpunk quote [NOISE]
by Corey Bridges 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 02:20 PM 12/29/95 +0100, Anonymous wrote: >The will of the people is the best law. Rrrr. Rrrrr... OKAY, I'm sure that's bait, but it's a (relatively) slow week here at Netscapegoat. (Besides, I've apparently already set a precedent for responding to tentacularly dangled carrots earlier this week with my response to the C'punk Seal question.) So I'm throwing better judgment to the wind and leaping straight for the soft pink throat of this taunt. To reply simply: Wrong -- the will of the people is as fickle as the wind. Follow the will of the people, and you run your country by following fads. Mob rule and all that. We're in deep trouble if we ever get a true democracy. Sorry. Just had to respond. -- MY opinions, thank you very much. Corey Bridges Netscape Communications Corporation home.netscape.com/people/corey Action figure #35: "Jeff Weinstein, with real asbestos suit and glow-in-the-dark magnetized target!"

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(no subject)
by HousePasley 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Talk to me..my son has shoes...cypher this... mays out of maggots, go arial.

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Re: Is Dr Fred Cohen a Loon???
by Herb Sutter 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 19:55 12.30.1995 -0600, Ed Carp [khijol SysAdmin] wrote: >I am as unenvious of Mr. Cohen as I am of Bruce Schneier - and Bruce has a >lot more of my respect. Just because someone writes a "very innovative >thesis" on viruses doesn't mean they know diddly about anything else, >especially cryptography. Where is Fred's paper? I've got Bruce's book on >my shelf that I can read for myself and *that's* a classic in the field. In that case, look at the last two pages in "Applied Crypto - 2nd ed", where Wiley puts ads for related books. You'll find: - "E-Mail Security", also by Bruce Schneier - "Protection and Security on the Information Superhighway", by Frederick B. Cohen - "Digital Money", by Daniel Lynch and Leslie Lundquist I am neither attacking nor defending Fred Cohen; I don't know him from Adam, and haven't read his messages or his book. But since you asked for where you can find Cohen's published work, there's one answer (assuming it's the same Fred Cohen). Herb ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Herb Sutter (herbs(a)connobj.com) Connected Object Solutions 2228 Urwin - Suite 102 voice 416-618-0184 http://www.connobj.com/ Oakville ON Canada L6L 2T2 fax 905-847-6019

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"Deterrence"
by jim bell 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

In the 1960's movie, "Dr. Strangelove," the title character defined "deterrence" as being "the art of making your enemies FEAR to attack you." As has been well-publicized recently, pressure from a German prosecutor had induced Compuserve to cease access to a number of sex-related Internet groups. Clearly, neither Compuserve nor its users nor the Internet community in general has demonstrated adequate DETERRENCE to him or people in his position. In my essay, "Assassination Politics," I pointed out that it would be relatively easy to deter such official-type actions if enough of us simply said, "NO!" and denominated it in terms of dollars and cents. After all, with four million Compuserve users, if they each were willing to donate a penny to see this latter-day Fuhrer dead, that would be $40,000. (Pardon me if I don't translate this into marks and other currencies.) In practice, of course, if such a system were in place, it is highly unlikely that he would have even dared try to put pressure on Compuserve, and Compuserve wouldn't have dared respond cooperatively to such outrageous influence. It is worth noting that if six million Jews had been willing to donate a dime each in 1932 to see Hitler and his cronies dead, much of the late thirties and forties would have ended up quite differently. Some may argue that today's situation isn't nearly as serious now as it was then, but then again, the situation probably didn't really look very serious in 1932, did it?!? WHEN, exactly, would it be appropriate to act?

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