December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

New Customers for your Neighborhood Business, Church, Practice...
by 10510344＠30330.com 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

You know that new customers are the lifeblood of any local business; and WE CAN HELP YOU FIND MORE! That's because we know WHO'S NEW - those who recently came to live in your market or service area. We can tell you each month who and where they are, so that you can advertise to them (eg by mail) before they have time to get established with your rivals. Whether you own or manage a retail store, a clinic (medical, dental, veterinary...), a church, club, a private school, beauty salon, restaurant, professional office or bank - this is a prime opportunity to gain MORE new clients and so to increase growth. What we can help you do is MORE THAN to replace customers who move away; to get more than your "share" of new arrivals to Town, by putting YOUR name and special offer before them at the very time they are making decisions about whom to patronize. If you don't own or manage such an establishment, please pass this along to a friend who does. But if you do, find out more details now from our Web site, which you can reach at http://www.famailcrt.com/c-am.com Sincerely, Jim Davies

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Is CDMF secure?
by nobody＠REPLAY.COM 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Is CDMF secure? and, What sort of algorithm is it? Thanks.

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The Bioweaponeers
by John Young 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

The New Yorker magazine of March 9 has a long shattering essay on Ken Alibek, the former Soviet bioweapons expert, William Patrick, the US's counterpart, the state of Russian secret bioweapons development, and prospects for the spread and use of this WMD. It's far more disturbingly detailed than the New York Times and ABC PrimeTime reports, and presents a horrific spectrum of gruesome details of nearly unimaginable catastrophe fermenting in secret laboratories and deepest black storage tanks. If you thought nuclear weapons were terrifying, read this for a shocking introduction to evil which will give even thermonuclear warriors nightmares of helplessness. Where Strangelovian physicists once ruled, now reign Mad microbiologists. Richard Preston is the writer, featured on PrimeTime and author of The Hot Zone, on the Ebola virus. For those without easy access to the magazine we offer a copy: http://jya.com/bioweap.htm (62K)

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Shave Slaughter '98
by Perrin . 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I have shut down all paint factories in the area. Shaving cream war!! Pshhhhhh... splat! Ha ha! Who's laughing now?! I own all of the shaving cream companies! I own all of their stocks! Shave Slaughter '98 has started. Prepare to die. Hairface ------------------- I'm assuming it's the same rules as Paint War - Perrin ------------------ fixed by Perrin pleontks(a)hotmail.com http://members.tripod.com/~pleontks http://www.angelfire.com/az/69frank69 ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

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COSTUME BALL
by Sandy Sandfort 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SANDY SANDFORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cypherpunks, It's that time again. My next gala costume ball is March 14th. You are invited. The full invitation is at: http://www.c2.net/~sandy/98mar.htm Please read the invitation carefully. The devil is always in the details. This notice is being sent via the Cypherpunks Announce List. If you don't want to be on the list, DON'T e-mail me. I can't get you off the list. To get off the list, send e-mail to: majordomo(a)toad.com As the first line of the message, write: unsubscribe cypherpunks-announce Hope to see you on the 14th. Regards, S a n d y ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Hard Drive Encryption Packages Comparison (Win 95)
by andrew fabbro 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Windows 95 Hard Drive Encryption Packages Comparison ---------------------------------------------------- by Andrew Fabbro <afabbro(a)umich.edu> 3 March 1997 I've had several requests to post this to the cypherpunks list, and I'm also posting it in the newsgroups where I originally asked for software suggestions. This list only compares FEATURES -- I have not done any independent analysis of these products' claims and have not even tried the evaluation copies of all of them. This was originally just for my own reference -- I've cleaned it up a bit but it isn't exhaustive, or necessarily fair. I'm sure there are other packages-- if you think I've left something significant out, please let me know. I'd also appreciate any corrections or giggles at obvious errors in thought. After getting some feedback/corrections, this will eventually be put on the Web. ---------- DISCLAIMER ========== I am just a Doc-Martens-and-earrings cypherpunk, not a security consultant! I am not a professional cryptologist, nor a Windows 95 expert. You should NOT take my opinions at face value -- you should evaluate these products yourself. This list is just designed to give you some starting points and save you some leg work. Of course, I take no responsibility, make nor warranties, blah blah... ---------------------------------------- INTRO: EXPLANATION OF LISTINGS AND TERMS ======================================== These packages all provide interface functionality beyond the simple file-by-file encryption available with, say, PGP. Either they provide a drive interface or they allow you to designate a list of files which are then transparently or automatically de/encrypted in some fashion. If you have only a few files or anticipate only temporary or infrequent de/encryption, then PGP or something similar would probably suffice. I've separated this list into two categories using my own made-up terms: Virtual Volume programs and File List programs. VV programs make a large file on your hard drive which is transparently available to Win95 as a drive (similar to the way DriveSpace/DoubleSpace works). Once you authenticate and mount the drive, everything else is transparent. With File List programs, you designate a list of files or folders that you want encrypted. The encryption package then en/decrypts these either on-the-fly as you access them, or in bulk at boot-time/ shutdown-time. Most offer individual file/folder manual operation as well. Unlike Virtual Volume programs, which pretty much all operate the same way, there is a greater variation in interface with File List programs, so evaluate closely before purchase. In practice, the difference between Virtual Volume and File List programs is not that great: you type your password once at login and everything else is handled by the software. The only difference is that with File List programs, you have to designate files or folders, which might be a more frequent task than designating a single drive. On the other hand, all of your sensitive files may live in only a few directories anyway, and File List programs let you place these files/folders anywhere on your system, mingled in with non-encrypted files. There were a few packages which appear to operate in a truly manual mode -- you decrypt before opening and then encrypt when you're finished with the file (assuming you don't forget, or become lazy). If you're going to do this, just use PGP, which is likely already on your system already, you little cypherpunk, you, and offers CAST, IDEA, and Triple-DES. Packages with manual-mode operation are under "Manual-Operation Packages" at the end. Norton is so vague about the operation of "Your Eyes Only" on their web page that it is listed in this section. "Preview" refers to an evaluation copy-- if one is available for download (be it crippleware or whatever), this field is marked Yes. ---------------- MY PERSONAL PICK ================ I'm still evaluating, but will likely settle on Kremlin. Even though virtual volumes seem easier to me, Kremlin has one must-have feature I haven't found elsewhere: it addresses the Windows swapfile issue. Windows' swapfile has raw hunks of memory swapped out to disk, which which could contain anything from any open file. These swapfiles are not reliably deleted at shutdown-time, or in the event of a system crash, and in any event Windows certainly doesn't securely (DoD-style) delete them. Some snooper with a boot disk, file recovery utility, and hex editor could stop by and read previous memory images...talk about data leakage. None of these packages allow you to encrypt the swapfile while Windows is running, but Kremlin's Sentry does the next best thing. At shutdown-time, it securely deletes the swapfile and other temp files, wiping the drive DoD-style. The fact that Kremlin's design was obviously thought out from the perspective of an integrated platform and took this issue into account gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. Also, Kremlin offers the most diverse array of algorithms and has some nice extras, such as a secure Recycle Bin, which is easier to use than having to remember to run a special secure delete command from the context menu. And it's only $35! If I were administering a site-wide encryption program, I might choose something that was designed for that environment and offered more administrative options. I've made notes on packages which address this situation and its issues. ---------- SIDE NOTES ========== BLOWFISH was specifically designed to be fast in software implementations on 32-bit processors and would likely be the fastest algorithm you can pick. I've not noticed any lag when using BLOWFISH-based systems on a 486-66 w/32MB RAM (hardly a fast machine). Some publishers only specified a "Genuine RSA Encryption Engine," displaying a RSA-licensed logo. This isn't snake oil, but I'd sure like to know more about the crypto. ----------------------- VIRTUAL VOLUME PACKAGES ======================= Product : BestCrypt Manufacturer : Jetico, Inc. Type : Virtual Volume Crypto : BLOWFISH, GOST, DES Features : timeout close, hotkey close, secure delete Cost : $89.95 Preview? : Yes - 30 day trial, after expiration, volume becomes read-only Web : http://www.jetico.sci.fi/np_new.htm Notes : Joel McNamara (Private Idaho's author) picks this for his Cryptobook specification (see http://www.eskimo.com/~joelm/cryptbk.html) A completely free and very well-designed DoD-spec file deletion utility is available at Jetico web site, too, as a separate freeware package (BCWipe - get it!) Product : SafeHouse Manufacturer : PC Dynamics Type : Virtual Volume Crypto : BLOWFISH, FAST, DES/Triple DES Features : Configurable passwords/expirations, optional key recovery, C++ developer's toolkit available. Cost : $79.95 Preview? : Yes - free trial version with 40-bit DES Web : http://www.pcdynamics.com/SafeHouse/ Notes : key recovery is optional- you can choose to "brand" the volume or not. Product : Private Disk (in beta) Manufacturer : Private Data, Inc. Type : Virtual Volume Crypto : Not specified - "strong" versions for US/Canada Features : Cost : not listed Preview? : Beta participation program Web : http://www.privatedata.com/ Notes : I mention this only for die-hard cypherpunks who want to try new toys and might be interested in beta participation. ------------------ FILE LIST PACKAGES ================== Product : Kremlin Manufacturer : Mach5 Type : File List Crypto : CAST, IDEA, BLOWFISH, RC4, Safer SK-128, DES, and NewDES Features : Automatic Decrypt/Encrypt at Login/out, includes a secure text editor/e-mail package, secure Recycle Bin, Sentry program to automate swap/temp/other-file wiping. Cost : $35 Preview? : Yes Web : http://www.mach5.com/kremlin/ Notes : This is a very nice package and my personal pick -- see my notes in the intro. Product : RSA SecurePC Manufacturer : Security Dynamics, Inc. Type : File List Crypto : RC4 Features : Trustee threshold key recovery system, boot lock, screen lock, network support, password expiration/rule management Cost : Not listed, and I was too lazy to make a phone call to find out Preview? : Yes Web : http://www.securitydynamics.com/solutions/products/securpc.html Notes : The key-recovery system is very well-thought out and involves trustee thresh-holds -- i.e., you can decide that three (or seven or whatever) administrators' signatures are necessary to recovery a key...prevents malicious admins' snooping. The admin support (for site-wide usage) is also nice. This product was formerly published by RSA, who now licenses it to Security Dynamics. This looks like a very well-designed package with many extras for group-use situations, though more crypto options would be nice. Product : SecureWin Manufacturer : Cipher Logics Type : File List Crypto : RSA Public. No further details were specified. Features : SecureWin is more of an integrated security environment than just a hard drive encryptor -- it also includes secure deletions, e-mail integration, a password keeper, etc. There is an extensive access-control facility. Operates via a "secure Start menu," a taskbar add-on. Network support. Cost : $29.95 Preview? : Yes - 30 day evaluation download. Web : http://www.securewin.com/ Notes : Very well done from a user interface point of view and has numerous cool add-ons. I wish more information was given on the crypto and its implementation. Product : F-Secure Desktop Manufacturer : Data Fellows Type : File List Crypto : Triple-DES ("168-bit"), BLOWFISH Features : Cost : $99 Preview? : No Web : http://www.datafellows.com/f-secure/desktop/ Notes : Normally, you specify a set of folders/files to be de/encrypted at login/out. Alternatively, you can list files as "Top Secret," which means you must manually de/encrypt them via context menu. Product : DataGuard Manufacturer : Secure Services Link, Ltd. Type : File List Crypto : IDEA, SEAL Features : extensive class-based access control, trustee-threshold key recovery system Cost : $69 Preview? : No Web : http://www.sls.net/dataguard_v2.html Notes : The class-based access control lists appear to offer highly configurable access control: classes of data (e.g., workgroup or by sensitivity or whatever), with access rights offered by right to select users. You can also set "minimum eyes" thresholds for groups-- e.g., all members or certain members must be present for access to be given. Encryption or decryption rights can be separated. This would be very nice for site-wide situations, except...the basic package does not offer network support. "Pro" and "Net" packages which do are slated for April '98 release. ------------------------- MANUAL-OPERATION PACKAGES ========================= Product : SAFE Folder Manufacturer : GlobeTech Catana Type : File List, Semi-Manual Crypto : BLOWFISH Features : Cost : $58.75 Preview? : Yes - password fixed to "DEMO" Web : http://www.globetech.se/safe/ Notes : From the web page, I infer that you have to manually de/encrypt files. It can operate at a folder level, which is at least some improvement over file-by-file operation. I didn't see any reason why this product would be better than any of those listed above. Product : Your Eyes Only Manufacturer : Norton (Symantec) Type : File List, Manual? Crypto : It uses a "Genuine RSA Encryption Engine". Features : boot-time lock, screen lock, uses context menu, network support Cost : $89.95 Preview? : No Web : http://www.symantec.com/yeo/index_product.html Notes : I couldn't tell if this operated in some sort of transparent or automatic fashion like other file list programs, or if you had to encrypt/decrypt each folder manually. A screen shot shows a user using a context meny that has "Enable SmartLock Folder" and "Disable SmartLock Folder," which implies some non-manual mode of operation. E-mail to Symantec asking for more information (and details on their crypto) went unanswered. There is also an administrator's version of this program. Product : Stealth Encryptor Manufacturer : Tropical Software, Inc. Type : File List Crypto : BLOWFISH, DES ("64-bit") Features : installable crypto modules (via .DLL, development kit available), secure delete, e-mail integration Cost : $34.95 Preview? : Yes Web : http://www.tropsoft.com/stealth/ Notes : This package's unique feature is its support for drop-in crypto modules. Theoretically you could write your own .DLL with another crypto system of your choice and Stealth Encryptor would integrate it. If you have a burning desire to do this, you might look into this. SE also features "Stealth Media Encryption" which is "super speed" for image files, executables, etc...presumably with weaker crypto. Product : SecureStore Manufacturer : Selom Ofori Type : Manual Crypto : BLOWFISH, DES/Triple-DES, CAST, RC4, Diamond2 Features : Cost : $30 Preview? : Yes Web : http://www.freeyellow.com/members/renegade/ Notes : SecureStore creates archives into which you can place files. From what I saw on their web site, to access aid files, you have to pull them out of the archive again. While the screen shots show some nice displays (e.g., which crypto used, compression ratio, etc.), this mode of operation does not appeal to me. Product : Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) Manufacturer : PGP, Inc. (well, Network Associates now, I guess) Type : Manual Crypto : CAST, IDEA, Triple-DES Features : Too many to list. Cost : Free Preview? : Yes Web : http://www.pgp.com/ Notes : Listed just for the sake of completeness. And it's not at all bad for manual encrypt/decrypt -- version 5.5 has a nice toolbar and tray interface. But you'll want it for all the other messaging features anyway...

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Crypto Law Survey updated
by Bert-Jaap Koops 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

I have just updated my survey of existing and envisaged cryptography laws and regulations. See the Crypto Law Survey at http://cwis.kub.nl/~frw/people/koops/lawsurvy.htm This update includes: -update on European Union (ETSI on TTP; Eckhert statement; COM (97) 503 "not important"; Birmingham conference), Council of Europe (PC-CY), Belgium (law amended), Canada (crypto policy discussion paper), France (Lorentz report), Gemany (Sandl statement; no backdoor in Pluto), Israel (export revision), Netherlands (proposals to extend decryption command; TTP project; encrypt to "seize"; use remains free), Scandinavia (PSS no longer Nordic), United Kingdom (policy announcement delayed; SfL resolution), United States (interim export rule; California resolution; czar travels; Compsec Enhancement Act; Kerrey McCain revised; AES conference) -corrections on Estonia (controls were reported), Switzerland (telecom > radio) -clarification on Wassenaar Arrangement (General Software Note), Germany (export), Israel (case-by-case decisions), Sweden (Internet export), US (SAFE versions) -URL added to Canada (gov PKI), Hong Kong (export) Kind regards, Bert-Jaap --------------------------------------------------------------------- Bert-Jaap Koops tel +31 13 466 8101 Center for Law, Administration and facs +31 13 466 8149 Informatization, Tilburg University e-mail E.J.Koops(a)kub.nl -------------------------------------------------- Postbus 90153 | This world's just mad enough to have been made | 5000 LE Tilburg | by the Being his beings into being prayed. | The Netherlands | (Howard Nemerov) | --------------------------------------------------------------------- http://cwis.kub.nl/~frw/people/koops/bertjaap.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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Medical Privacy Alert
by JWRCLUM 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF MASSACHUSETTS 99 Chauncy Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA 02111 (617) 482-3170 Fax (617) 451-000 CONTACT: John Roberts (617) 482-3170 http://users.aol.com/mcluf/home.html BENNETT-JEFFORDS BILL PLACES MEDICAL RECORD PRIVACY AT RISK The confidentiality of the doctor-patient relationship will be totally undermined as medical records become widely available without patient knowledge or consent. BOSTON - February 27, 1998. On Thursday 2/26/98 the United State Senate's Labor and Human Resources Committee heard testimony concerning a bill proposed by Senators Bennett and Jeffords that, if passed, would license the widespread disclosure of personal medical information contained in files held by doctors, hospitals, employers, educational institutions, and others. The bill which purports to be a privacy bill is, in fact, just the opposite. It places virtually no restrictions on the disclosure of personal medical records within health care entities (no matter how large and geographically widespread) or to a long list of other entities and agencies including the following: - any agents or contractors of the health care entities - Public Health Agencies, Oversight Agencies - Health Care Accreditation Agencies - State Health Care Databases There are major loopholes in access provisions for - Health Care Researchers - "Outcome" analysts ("cost/benefit" analysts for hospitals, HMO's, insurers, etc) Even law enforcement agencies will have easy access to browse computerized medical record systems for so-called "legitimate" investigatory purposes. This will make every American's medical record part of a new massive law enforcement database. The bill will destroy the confidential "doctor-patient relationship" and replace it with a new "patient-health care industry relationship." "This bill serves only the interests of the burgeoning health care industry," said John Roberts, Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. "It allows the transfer of your medical records to many entities that stand to profit from its information. Gone is doctor-patient confidentiality. Your doctor cannot protect your most sensitive medical information from many entities outside your medical facility. Even employers who have health plans are considered 'health care providers' in the Bennett-Jeffords bill. How many of us want our employers to have access to any of our medical records without our knowledge or consent?" The bill will also - Impose requirements that patients sign blanket consent forms for release of information as a condition of getting treatment, even for self-pay patients - Redefine "treatment" to make the patient's record a subject of continuous research - Blur the boundaries between individual patient care and the so-called "Population Management" and "Disease System Management" The bill will pre-empt all state laws which may be more protective of the confidentiality of medical records. The bill will not apply even its own minimal privacy protections to so-called "non-identifiable" medical records information. But...interestingly, the bill also refers to issuing "keys" to re-identify previously purportedly "non- identified" information. A formal logical analysis of this reveals that the bill itself admits that what it calls "nonidentifiable" medical record information is actually identifiable (i.e. containing patient information). The ACLU of Massachusetts believes that what is really needed for medical privacy protection would be the following: - Federal law should set a foundation or floor of privacy protection - State laws which are more-protective of patient's rights should not be preempted - No "Unique Patient Identification Numbers" - No electronic "linkage" of patient records stored in various sites - Computerized patient records must be encrypted with keys provided only to those directly involved in the individual patient care - The right of the individual patient to contract directly with physicians and health care providers regarding the privacy of the patient's medical records. -end-

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No Subject
by Michael Camp 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

help b093161c(a)bc.seflin.org

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Original Sources for Echelon
by John Young 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Duncan Campbell has posted the message below on Echelon. Would anyone happen to have a copy of the 1988 New Statesman article? If not, I'll dig it out of a library. More importantly, as Duncan asks, does anyone know of other original info on Echelon? ---------- Date: Mon, 02 Mar 1998 23:35:59 To: ukcrypto(a)maillist.ox.ac.uk From: Duncan Campbell <duncan(a)gn.apc.org> Subject: Original sources regarding the ECHELON sigint network >>The New York times has recently run a story regarding a "telecommunications >>interception network" operating in Europe. >>My recollection is that news broke about this some time last year, thanks >>to revelations in New Zealand. Sorry, I don't have a good reference to >> hand. The original and primary source for information on ECHELON is an article I wrote in New Statesman magazine ten years ago : NS, 12 August 1988 : "They've got it taped". In 1991, a UK World in Action programme added an important new detail about the network, namely the presence of a DICTIONARY computer (a key part of the system) at GCHQ's processing centre in Westminster. In 1993, I produced a documentary for Channel 4 - "The Hill" which related ECHELON to the work of the Menwith Hill NSA field station near Harrogate in Yorkshire. In 1996, Nicky Hager in New Zealand described in his book "Secret Power" the presence of DICTIONARY computers at two New Zealand sigint stations, and gave extensive details of the local programming and tasking of the ECHELON "dictionaries". Apart from these sources, so far as I am aware all the reports that are around are derivative and reprocessed. The European Parliament STOA committee report from the "Omega Foundation" is in this category and was in fact submitted rather more than a year ago. If anyone is aware of any other *original* publication on this topic, could they post it. The arrival in the public domain of original information in this area is a rarity, yet is the foundation for the only things we "know" about the scale of NSA/GCHQ surveillance and processing. Duncan Campbell

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