December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Hettinga Rants in WiReD...
by Robert Hettinga 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Now if they'll send me the check... :-) About two months ago, I wrote an 'Idees Fortes' piece for Wired. It's about digital bearer bonds. If I remember the title, it's something like "The Internet as Buttonwood Tree". You guys have heard most of it from me before. Thus, as usual, it is, again, TiReD... People tell me it's in the latest issue, which is out now, but I haven't gone looking for it on the newstand yet. Maybe they'll send me a clipping. With the check. Did I tell you they haven't sent the check. That's a recurring problem with me lately... Maybe I should update my non-repudiation rant... You shoulda seen the first version. Or, maybe you did... I can't remember. The editor said something about it being too out there, or something like that. For WiReD?... ;-) It's late. I'm going to sleep. Cheers, Bob Hettinga ----------------- Robert Hettinga (rah(a)shipwright.com) e$, 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "'Bart Bucks' are not legal tender." -- Punishment, 100 times on a chalkboard, for Bart Simpson The e$ Home Page: http://www.vmeng.com/rah/

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The Orchid Ring of (Probable) Child Pornographers
by tcmay＠got.net 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 11:29 AM 7/17/96, John Young wrote: > "16 Indicted On Charges Of Internet Pornography." > > Exon-Reno-ing into one of the more distant frontiers of > sexual crime, a Federal grand jury charged 16 people in > the US and abroad with joining in a pornography ring. > Its members shared homemade pictures, recounted their > sexual experiences with children and even chatted > electronically as two of the men molested a 10-year-old > girl. The case appeared likely to heighten concerns > about the spread of child pornography over the Internet. This incident happened very near me, in Greenfield, California, near Salinas. (No, I was not involved!) Apparently the "Orchid Ring" (or "Orchid Club") was using a password-protected system of some sort, according to an article in today's "Mercury News." The Internet was used, but I don't know the details (e.g., whether IRC was used, ordinary e-mail, or some soft of "intranet" linking the participants). ObList Relevance: Even if they were not using PGP or the like, it is not a leap to imagine the usefullness of crypto for such intranets. It'll be interesting to see how this unfolds. BTW, from the reports it appears likely that these were indeed "child pornographers," not simple violators of the CDA. That is, full-fledged Horsemen of the Infocalypse. As such, potentially powerful ammunition for those who would like restrictions placed on crypto. (Especially if it turns out that law enforcement learned of the Orchid Ring through non-encrypted communications.) --Tim May Boycott "Big Brother Inside" 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, Licensed Ontologist | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."

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Re: New Infowarfare Panel
by tcmay＠got.net 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 8:01 PM 7/17/96, Dave Banisar wrote: >If y'all have heard, Clinton signed an executive order 2 days ago creating a >new panel to examine how to "protect" "critical" computer systems. The panel >will be made of of the usual suspects with a non-govt person ($5.00 says it >will be someone from one of those wonderfully independant companies like SAIC, >MITRETEC, EDS, E-Systems). > >Needless to say, it looks an awful lot like NSDD-145 all over again with the >panel recommending changes to the law to allo for greater coordination of LE, >intell for govt computers and god knows what for non-govt computers. > >Anyway, the directive is now up on our site at >http://www.epic.org/security/infowar/eo_cip.html Thanks. It's certainly beginning to look like "infowar" is the new funding/legislation fount....I suggest it be given honorary status as a "Horseman." Winn Schwartau is running conferences, is talking about the imminent danger of the nation's computer networks being knocked out (paraphrasing his latest "Wired" item: "imagine your ATM network being knocked out and people being unable to gain access to their money"). Schwartau is predicting/advocating a "fifth branch" of the military to deal with the this threat. A cyberforce, as it were. Color me skeptical, but I see this all as a lot of hype and fear-mongering. Folks in the Pentagon, FBI, and NSA probably see it as a way to get more funding, Folks in the consulting business probably see it as a way to crank up the seminar prices and increase the number and frequency of "Information Warfare" workshops and seminars. And the anti-terrorism folks will use it to tighten up. (Of course, tonight's explosion of the TWA 800 looks to be a bomb, from all indications...this _could_ be the "Oklahoma II" incident that will trigger more draconian surveillance legislation. Just a concern I have.) --Tim May Boycott "Big Brother Inside" 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, Licensed Ontologist | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."

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Re: TLA abuse (?) [non-crypto, mostly]
by Clay Olbon II 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

David K. Merriman <merriman(a)amaonline.com> wrote: >Officer (sorry, don't recall his rank) Hughes says *he* thinks the models >could conceivably be 18; a judge they showed it to said _she_ thought >(personal opinion) younger. Hence, the forwarding to FBI for quasi-official >determination. Child pornography is illegal, however I don't believe that pictures of nekkid children are always considered to be child pornography (however much small-minded twirps want you to believe that they are). I know several "fundamentalists" who decry what our society has sunk to with images such as David's posted on the net for all to see. I take the opposing view, decrying the idiocy of declaring parts of our own bodies to be obscene. Unfortunately I don't see victory any time soon. Clay *************************************************************************** Clay Olbon II * Clay.Olbon(a)dynetics.com Systems Engineer * PGP262 public key on web page Dynetics, Inc. * http://www.msen.com/~olbon/olbon.html ***************************************************************** TANSTAAFL

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Re: #E-CASH: PRODUCT OR SERVICE?
by Alex de Joode 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

In article <m0ugN8o-000HEEC(a)JATO.hackvan.com> Stig wrote: : > Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 22:48:23 +0200 (MET DST) : > From: Alex de Joode <usura(a)replay.com> : > To: cypherpunks(a)toad.com : > Subject: Re: #E-CASH: PRODUCT OR SERVICE? : > Newsgroups: list.cypherpunks : > : > [..] : > : "Ecash" is a registered trademark of DigiCash. It is registered : > : with the Benelux trademark office and the United States : > : trademark office. I believe that it is considered unwise to use : > : minor variations on trademarked names, but I'm not an : > : intellectual property rights lawyer. : > : > The Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) trademark laws : > don't allow for slight variations, certainly not if there is a : > change that people get confused, it is very very likey that the : > judges of the benelux trademark court will decide that : > ecash and e-cash are just to simular, and will thus confuse the : > public. (art 5 lid 1 BMW) : > : > btw: I'm surprised DigiCash didn't file for a European Trademark, : > but opted for Benelux and US protection. : Perhaps this has already been voiced on the main list (I get a filtered : helping or two of cypherpunks), but *I'm* surprised that such a generic name : as 'Ecash' was granted trademark status anywhere. : It's like giving Microsoft a trademark on the term 'Email'... It's nuts! : Was the term ecash not in use before DigiCash showed up on the scene? Untill januari 1st 1996 you could trademark anything in The Benelux. A bank (ABM*AMRO) has a trademark on 'the bank'; they essentially upgraded a generic name into a trademark, but the recent changes made that impossible since the Benelux Trademark Buro has to check if a name is a generic name and they now have the power to refuse a registration. bEST Regards, -- -AJ-

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overseas PGPfone and Netscape
by Jean-Paul Kroepfli 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I've seen some threads about (1) the new PGPfone, (2) the new US-version of Netscape and leakage. So my question: [Important] Do you know some non-US URL with the latest version of PGPfone for Win? (I monitored the usual European repositories quasi day to day, but it was always the old version) [Less important] Ibid. for the new US-Netscape (with full 128-SSL) (I suppose there is a copyright problem for such a -hum- mirroring) Best regards, Jean-Paul ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- Jean-Paul et Micheline Kroepfli (our son: Nicolas and daughter: Celine) eMail: JeanPaul.Kroepfli(a)utopia.fnet.fr Also Compuserve and MSNetwork Phone: +33 81 55 52 59 (F) PostMail: F-25640 Breconchaux (France) or: +41 21 843 27 36 (CH) or: CP 138, CH-1337 Vallorbe Fax: +33 81 55 52 62 (Switzerland) Zephyr(r) : InterNet Communication and Commerce, Security and Cryptography consulting PGP Fingerprint : 19 FB 67 EA 20 70 53 89 AF B2 5C 7F 02 1F CA 8F "The InterNet is the most open standard since air for breathing"

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Re: "address verification databases"? (was: Netscape download...)
by Duncan Frissell 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 12:47 AM 7/18/96 -0700, Jeff Weinstein wrote: > Our database was obtained from American Business Information. >They make those CDROMs with 11 million business names and addresses, >and other such products. There is a link to their web page from our >US download page. > Our verification software does not check that the person whose name >is entered in the form lives at the address entered in the form. >We do verify some parts of the information entered. Things like >is the state code one of the 50 states, does the zip code match >the state, etc. (NOTE - these may not be the exact checks implemented >currently. I have not examined the code myself, but these are the >types of checks being done.) I got my copy after entering my accomodation address in New York City so the address part of the control mechanism is not a problem. DCF

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(fwd) Re: US versions of Netscape now available---NOT
by nobody＠REPLAY.COM 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Sternlight writes: : >>Yes. We've had a few thousand people download it. Unfortunately, we : >>only have one machine serving downloads right now, and it tends to melt : >>down a couple times a day. : > : >I've tried four times, and each time has timed out. (That is, I've filled : >out the Web form four times and tried n times each iteration...at least I : >get to experiment with variations on my name and address each time :-}) : > : >I guess I'll have to connect to the Italian and/or Swedish sites again. Has : >the software arrived there yet? : : Very droll. I had no trouble downloading it first try. Perhaps you should : switch to Netcom. :-) : Tim you may use this as entry data: Whatever YaKnow cybernut(a)nutcom.com 10401 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 805 Los Angeles, CA 90024-4628 (310) 475-3799 Your friend.

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Mail-order Ph.D.'s
by dlv＠bwalk.dm.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I've received an obnoxious e-mail signed by *Dr.* David Sternlight. :-) David, did you buy your sheepskin in a pizzeria? How much did you pay? --- Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM Brighton Beach Boardwalk BBS, Forest Hills, N.Y.: +1-718-261-2013, 14.4Kbps

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Re: Cypherpunks and Toad.com copyrights ..
by Mike McNally 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Damien Lucifer wrote: > > I'd like to put the words > > Cypherpunks(a)toad.com > > On a tee-shirt. Why? Is there not enough noise on the list already? Why not advertise the "Squish the Tentacle" game while you're at it? ______c_____________________________________________________________________ Mike M Nally * Tiv^H^H^H IBM * Austin TX * For the time being, m5(a)tivoli.com * m101(a)io.com * <URL:http://www.io.com/~m101> * three heads and eight arms.

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