December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Re: National Socio-Economic Security Need for Encryption Technology
by Bart Croughs 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Timothy May wrote: >Others have shown how meaningless your repeated calls for a proof are, as >so many assumptions must be carefully spelled out. >To give an example of how hard the situation is to analyze, consider the >computer and chip industries. (If you argue that your "theorem" is for >nations in the aggregate, and not any particular companies or even >industries, then I will maintain that my example holds pretty much true for >automobiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and so on._ >The computer and chip industries move certain investments abroad, to >Malaysia, the Phillipines, Indonesia, Mexico, and so forth. But by moving >these investments abroad, they believe their net market size, >profitability, shareholder value, etc., will be enhanced. Else they >wouldn't do it. >Multiply this by all the industries.... >Now, would "the economy" be "better off" if Intel, say, had not moved >assembly operations to Malaysia in the 1970s? Perhaps Intel would now be >bankrupt and gone, as so many of its rivals of the time are now gone and >barely remembered. >You see the problem? Who can say what "better off" is, given that we can't >run history down alternate paths as an experiment. >Your one-track mind is truly astounding. We've had kooks and oddballs on >the list before, but never one who has written a dozen or more posts asking >the same ill-phrased question over and over again. So you say that my question can't be answered because the situation is too difficult to analyze, "given that we can't run history down alternate paths as an experiment." The situation is indeed hopelessly difficult if you think that economics is an empirical (experimental) science. But, as an Austrian, you should know that economics isn't an empirical science; it's a science that deals with the logic of human action. It starts from the axiom of human action, and all the other axioms of economics follow from this axiom by deductive reasoning. This is called the praxeological method. The answer to economic problems can only be given by reasoning, not by running experiments in the real world. Read Mises (Human action), Rothbard (Man, economy and state) etc. for further information. To prevent you from claiming this isn't true, I will quote Rothbard (in 'The foundations of modern Austrian economics', p. 19, ed. E. Dolan): "Praxeology rests on the fundamental axiom that individual human beings act(...) The praxeological method spins out by verbal deduction the logical implications of that primordial fact." etc. So, it really doesn't matter at all that we can't run history down alternate paths as an experiment, because the kind of empirical 'data' that such experiments would generate are not very helpful in the first place. Fortunately, situations that are at first sight hopelessly difficult can sometimes be analyzed and simplified by performing a thought experiment. That's what I did when I offered my 'reductio ad absurdum' proof. I didn't use empirical data, I used logic and reasoning; that's the way it should be done in economics. So far, you didn't rebut the proof I offered. You only argue that my proof must be wrong because the situation is too difficult to analyze because of all the empirical data that are lacking. That argument is, as I explained above, not to the point. And the fact that you take refuge in name-calling makes me suspect that subconsciously you don't find it very to the point yourself either. I understand it's not pleasant to be rebutted every time you answer my posts, but I fear it's something you will have to get used to. Of course, you could also consider making better arguments (after reading the books I suggested), or else stop posting on the subject. Bart Croughs

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Re: Ad Hoc Bay Area Cypherpunks Thing--Sat., 24 Aug, 3 pm, Menlo Park
by mccoy＠communities.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

> On Sat, 17 Aug 1996, Timothy C. May wrote: > > > There is no Cypherpunks event scheduled for that Saturday, but we can have > > an ad hoc gathering, informally arranged. I suggest meeting at 3 p.m. at > > Cody's Bookstore, on El Camino Real in Menlo Park (hard to miss). Or at the > > coffee shop next to it...either should be sufficient Schelling points to > > Do you mean Kepler's? That's the one right near Menlo Park caltrain > station; the coffee shop next to it is Cafe Borone. Get the Mocha. [Typing from the courtyard outside Cafe Barone (love that Ricochet...)] For those needing better directions, Cafe Barone/Keplers is at the Menlo Park Center, at the corner of El Camino and Ravenswood in Menlo Park... jim

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Re: Software manpower exports and the power of governments
by Vincent L. Diaz 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 06:17 PM 8/17/96 +0600, you wrote: >In the case >of Coke, I can understand the government not wanting to spend >precious foreign exchange on sugared water in a country where >there is a serious shortage of drinking water. Tim made the >perfectly valid point that such decisions cost the country in >reputation, but the Indian government doesn't mind loss of >reputation in matters it firmly believes in, as in the current CTBT discussion. There is a central point here that you are missing. Many of us here believe in the absolute, sovereign freedom of the individual. Governments should only be minimally involved with the earning of individuals. Control over the distribution of currency abroad, (i.e. foreign exchange controls) is definitely not one of them. As I understand the story of Coke in India, New Delhi was bent, among other things, on stealing proprietary information, (i.e. the formula for Coke) from the company. In short, they told Coke that they could stay only on condition that the formula was turned over to New Delhi. Yes, they cloaked their proposed theft in high sound nationalistic tripe, however it was nothing but a blatant attempt to steal what was not theirs. I do not claim a complete knowledge about the availability of fresh water on the Indian Sub-Continent. But I would be willing to wager that lack of progress in this area was severely hampered due to the typical, Statist meddling of the Indian government in the lives of its own people. It is immoral for any government to interfere in the personal choices of free men and women. If any person wishes to partake of a high quality, and probably locally expensive soft drink in preference to either local brands or water, scare or not, such a choice should be left to them, not to an Collectivist cabal of bureaucrats. What the Socialist Governments of India have never comprehended is that a government intent on doing you good is capable of doing you out of everything you own! Simplistic? Yes......simplicity is one of freedom's chief virtues. Regards, VINCENT L. DIAZ U-SAVE COMMUNICATIONS Business Line: 619-277-2411 Fax Line: 619-277-0298 http://www.cognigen.com/agencies/

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CS8191 data sheet and ordering info...
by Eric Blossom 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Attached is the ascii version of the data sheet, followed by ordering information. Full protocol specifications will be available in about 2 weeks. Eric ---------------------------------------------------------------- Communication Security Corporation CS8191 Triple-DES Telephone Privacy Device With the growing number of tools available to assist in wiretapping, anyone using a telephone in the '90's is vulnerable to unwanted eavesdropping. With many of today's standard technologies, anyone can gain access to our most private of conversations. As a result, the telecommunications industry has an increasing need for private, secure voice communication devices. The Communication Security Corporation has dedicated its resources to addressing this need by designing the CS8191, our flagship product and the most secure telephone privacy protection available. Unsurpassed Security Truly open, encryption technology is at the heart of the CS8191 telephone security unit. With the press of a button, the CS8191 is activated. Within seconds your conversation is kept secure from the intrusion of any type of wiretapping. Open-Standard Encryption How are you assured that your tele-security unit is really working to protect your telecommunications? In truth, the "trust-us" proprietary solutions used by competing products are an indication of weak privacy protection. They "hide" from the user, the ability to verify proper functioning of the unit. Communication Security provides users with the best privacy protection by incorporating leading-edge encryption technology that utilizes the power of truly open standards. Our commitment to an open specification allows sophisticated users the ability to "check under the hood" and evaluate the security attributes of the system. Portable And Easy To Use The CS8191 has been designed to work with conventional analog telephone systems (POTS). The unit connects between your telephone and the wall, much like a telephone answering machine. Plug in the power, and that's it. In "clear mode" your telephone continues to work as it normally does. To begin an encrypted conversation, simply press the 'go secure' button and wait for the green light to come on. The system is easy to use and compact, making it the perfect telephone security solution for home, travel or office use. Superior Performance * As a standard component, Communication Security has incorporated a leading-edge speech coder for clarity unsurpassed in secure telephone devices, to date. * Voice clarity is virtually undisturbed whether the system is in secure or clear mode. * LED indicators on the unit let you know instantly that your call is being transmitted securely. Service And Support The Communication Security Corporation provides a one year warranty for all parts and labor. Upgrades are included in the price of the CS8191 and are available under the terms of the warranty. For More Information To get more information on securing your phone communications, send email to info(a)comsec.com or call (707) 577-0409, fax (707) 577-0413. Features Benefits * Open standard encryption Allows independent evaluation and verification of protocol and behavior * Excellent speech quality Superior clarity is assured with leading-edge speech coder as a standard component * Auto Secure Allows for secure, unattended operation for all-hours data protection * Small size and weight Makes the CS8191 the perfect solution for secure home, office or travel telephone communications Specifications: Modem * ITU V.32bis (14,400 bits/sec) Interfaces * Two buttons (Go Secure, Go Clear) * Two LEDs (Secure, Clear) * External power supply * Two modular phone jacks Power * Input voltage: 110 volts AC, 50-60 Hz. Approvals * FCC, part 15 and 68 Warranty * 12 months parts and labor Software Upgrades * One year of upgrades included in purchase price Voice Nodes * Clear voice * Secure voice Secure Mode Speech Compression * International standard GSM 06.10 full rate speech transcoding (13,000 bits/sec) Notes: * Specifications subject to change without notice. * Government regulations apply for export license. * Completing the circle of secure communication requires the receiving end of your call to also have a CS8191 unit connected to their phone. Cryptographic Details: * Unique session key generated for each conversation using Diffie-Hellman exponential key exchange (2048 bit modulus) (U.S. Patent No. 4,200,770 licensed by Cylink Corporation) * Defense against "man in the middle" active attack using interleave protocol combined with voice verification of six digit key name derived from the public exponentials * Hardware Random number generator based on Johnson noise * Three Key Triple-DES (168 bit key), operating in modified counter mode. * No back door, "Key-Escrow" or GAK * Open standard. Full protocol specifications available. Communication Security Corporation 1275 Fourth St. Suite 194 Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Tel: 707-577-0409 Fax: 707-577-0413 info(a)comsec.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, I want real telephone privacy protection! Send me ________ CS8191's at $995.00 each: $____________ Shipping and Handling: $_______10.00 California residents add sales tax: $____________ Total: $____________ I'm paying with Check or M/O ____ Visa / MC ____ Name on Card:______________________________ Card Number:_______________________________ Exp. Date:__________ Ship To: _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ __________________________________________ Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. I am a US citizen or "Lawful Permanent Resident" Yes____ No____ Make checks payable to: Communication Security Corp. Mail or fax this order form to: Communication Security Corp. 1275 Fourth St., Suite 194 Santa Rosa, CA 95404 v: 707-577-0409 f: 707-577-0413

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US Taxes on X-Pats
by Vincent Cate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Robert Hettinga <rah(a)shipwright.com> > However, as Black Unicorn has noted here before, the Phillipenes are the >only other country besides the USofA where citizens are taxed any income >you get, no matter where on earth you actually earn it. It is not exactly that bad if you are outside the USA. I got ahold of the IRS codes on this before I left the USA (so about 2 years ago). The rule then was that the first $70,000 you earned was tax free if you were outside the USA for 330 days or more of the year. From another x-pat in Anguilla I heard that the $70 K had been increased. If you live outside the USA and have a corporation outside the USA, you might prefer that the corporation buy a company yacht rather than pay you more than $70 K. And at least on this tropical island, $70,000 tax free would go a very long way. It is true that if you are getting dividends and interest on your fortune that moving outside the USA won't help, unless you get rid of your US citizenship. And the USA wants you to pay capital gains on your fortune as if you sold everything for cash right before you got rid of your US citizenship. So it seems best to get rid of it before you are really rich. :-) -- Vince ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Vincent Cate vince(a)offshore.com.ai http://www.offshore.com.ai/vince/ Offshore Information Services http://www.offshore.com.ai/

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Ad Hoc Bay Area Cypherpunks Thing--Sat., 24 Aug, 3 pm, Menlo Park
by tcmay＠got.net 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

At 9:45 AM 8/17/96, aba(a)atlas.ex.ac.uk wrote: >Living in the UK, I really don't have that much idea where the people >on the list I've gotten to know over the years live. > >I will be over in the San Francisco / Redwood City area next Saturday >(24th), if anyone I know would like to meet, exchange keys, have a >chat about crypto/cypherpunks stuff, mail me. > >Also if there is any regular cpunks meeting in this area which >coincides, let me know! (I passed this message by Adam Back, and he can make this schedule. So, here it is. Unless serious objections are raised--e.g., a conflict with another party--I suggest we do this.) There is no Cypherpunks event scheduled for that Saturday, but we can have an ad hoc gathering, informally arranged. I suggest meeting at 3 p.m. at Cody's Bookstore, on El Camino Real in Menlo Park (hard to miss). Or at the coffee shop next to it...either should be sufficient Schelling points to nucleate a group. >From there we can adjourn to someplace for food. This should be close enough (a few miles) from Redwood City...a lot closer for Adam that the 50 miles for me. But I always need good excuses to visit the Valley. --Tim 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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distribution Digest - V01 #02
by distribution-request＠sevenlocks.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

distribution Digest Fri, 16 Aug 1996 00:01:50 Eastern Daylight Time V01 #02 Today's topics: 'new security information available' 'new security information available' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 21:19:11 Eastern Daylight Time From: "Dstang" <dstang(a)sevenlocks.com> Subject: new security information available Dear Security Colleague: I would like to invite you to subscribe to SecurityDigest, a new, free bi-monthly electronic newsletter, devoted to security news, issues and trends. Every issue of SecurityDigest is delivered to your desktop (or laptop) with the latest security news and information you need, in a clear and concise e-mail format. Subscribe now by sending an e-mail message to listserver(a)sevenlocks.com containing the string "subscribe securitydigest." Or view the charter issue of SecurityDigest on Safe@Home, Seven Locks Software's Web site (http://www.sevenlocks.com/SecurityDigest.htm) where you can also secure your free subscription. Sincerely, David J. Stang President and CEO Seven Locks Software, Inc. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 21:19:26 Eastern Daylight Time From: "Dstang" <dstang(a)sevenlocks.com> Subject: new security information available Dear Security Colleague: I would like to invite you to subscribe to SecurityDigest, a new, free bi-monthly electronic newsletter, devoted to security news, issues and trends. Every issue of SecurityDigest is delivered to your desktop (or laptop) with the latest security news and information you need, in a clear and concise e-mail format. Subscribe now by sending an e-mail message to listserver(a)sevenlocks.com containing the string "subscribe securitydigest." Or view the charter issue of SecurityDigest on Safe@Home, Seven Locks Software's Web site (http://www.sevenlocks.com/SecurityDigest.htm) where you can also secure your free subscription. Sincerely, David J. Stang President and CEO Seven Locks Software, Inc. ------------------------------ End of distribution Digest V01 #02 **********************************

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Anguilla
by Vincent Cate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

First I think Tim's summary of my situation is very accurate and fair at this point. One nit of a detail: >I surmise, given the size of Anguilla and the non-constitutional basis of >its government, etc., that it _might_ be a lot easier for a bureaucrat or >the Governor-General, or whomever, to seriously disrupt any business by a >few phone calls. I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect it to be >true. Anguilla does have a constitution. It would be hard for any bureaucrat to seriously disrupt an Anguillian's business. There just are not any regulations that they can arbitrarily invoke to harras people. However, x-pats are here as guests and they have to get a work permit, or visa, or something from time to time. So if x-pats do something that wears out their welcome, they have to leave. Tim: >Contrast this with a small data haven (a new >industry) in a small country, with operating margins that are razor-thin >(given the pricing structure Vince announced, I doubt Taxbomber and other >customers were paying enough to ensure a flow of payoffs to the Ruling >Families of Anguilla and the various officials that need to look the other >way). Nope, no bribes to government. However, in doing business here a lot of people have learned more about the Internet and computers. And I and another x-pat have started a weekly computer club. So there are good reasons that Anguilla should like having me here. For the record, the only bribe I have paid while I was here was (indirectly) to someone at the phone company to try to get a phone installed faster. It did not help, still took a year to get the phone. Cable and Wireless, and their high prices, is the worst thing about Anguilla. The current Anguilla government seems to be very clean. The rumor is that Cable and Wireless bribed the previous government with things like a free loan of a bulldozer worth $500/day for a couple weeks to get their 30 year monopoly contract. Given that CandW is making millions each year, seems they got off cheap, if true. Claim is that the UK does not mind their companies bribing officials, and CandW does it alot all around the world. -- Vince ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Vincent Cate vince(a)offshore.com.ai http://www.offshore.com.ai/vince/ Offshore Information Services http://www.offshore.com.ai/

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signoff cypherpunks
by Greg Nygren 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

>Return-Path: <cypherpunks-errors(a)toad.com> >Received: from toad.com by tor-srs2.netcom.ca (8.7.5/SMI-4.1/Netcom) > id TAA12781; Fri, 16 Aug 1996 19:38:39 -0400 (EDT) >Received: (from majordom@localhost) by toad.com (8.7.5/8.7.3) id KAA07516 for cypherpunks-outgoing; Fri, 16 Aug 1996 10:30:44 -0700 (PDT) >Received: from soleil.mnet.fr (root(a)soleil.mnet.fr [194.51.151.1]) by toad.com (8.7.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id KAA07511 for <cypherpunks(a)toad.com>; Fri, 16 Aug 1996 10:30:35 -0700 (PDT) >Received: from linux (ppp03.mnet.fr [194.51.151.26]) by soleil.mnet.fr (8.6.11/8.6.9) with SMTP id TAA21252 for <cypherpunks(a)toad.com>; Fri, 16 Aug 1996 19:29:49 +0100 >Message-ID: <3214BCA6.6ED8124F(a)mnet.fr> >Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 13:23:34 -0500 >From: Arnauld Dravet <scraver(a)mnet.fr> >X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0b6 (X11; I; Linux 2.0.0 i586) >MIME-Version: 1.0 >To: cypherpunks(a)toad.com >Subject: signoff cypherpunks >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >Sender: owner-cypherpunks(a)toad.com >Precedence: bulk > >signoff cypherpunks > >

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Re: Anguilla - A DataHaven?
by Hallam-Baker 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

The problem with the debatre on datahavens is that it is failing to account fo the fact that without the infrastructure of law business is not possible. What taxbomber offers is false identification papers. He does not simply offer fake passports but a whole raft of fake credentials. If I am offering free services to accredited journalists and someone comes along with a taxbomber supplied illegitimate press card and obtains free services that is fraud. Just because a policy for supplying credentials is not fully effective does not make it legitimate for an individual to make a business out of helping people to criminally exploit its flaws. Similarly libertarian wet dreams about oil rigs chock full of commandos armed to the teeth with machine guns will remain dreams. Fact is that under international law an oil rig is regarded as a ship and as such has to be acredited by some recognised nation. Diplomatic recoginition is not a trivial matter. Countries only provide recoginition if it is in their interests and critically it is _governments_ that are recognised. A declaration of independence by the inhabitants of an oil rig would be treated in a similar fashion to the Montana freemen. If the intention was to make international fraud easier then definitely expect the same treatment. Phill

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