December 2003 - cypherpunks-legacy

Year 2000 opportunity?
by Soren 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

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Re: What's up with algebra.com?
by John Young 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

What with the Feds now going after CJ for attempted murder of federal officials (film ad overkill!), Jeff Gordon soliciting cypherpunk subscribers to flesh that fancy, and one CDR operator flattered with a subpoena, it'd be prudent to have a way to check on whether a CDR node has been taken down or turned, and the operator hogtied with the system as evidence (or forced to run a sting to gather it), before a clamp's put on telling what's going on. May be too late, too late. Recall it's a major offense for revealing placement of a wiretap, surveillance or a covert investigation -- especially if you're assisting, willingly or unwillingly. Not that one should advocate hiding what might be construed as evidence or exposing underbelly work that's ordered concealed. Why that might be taken to be pushing a conspiracy against WMD-crazed authority rather than promoting personal hygiene with lots of sunshine and vigorous exercise of rights to fanciful imaginings of what a world would be like without minders galore. Whistling in the dark, mind you. Consider that there are 118,000 federal prisoners. That's a very big inhospitality business, and its growing, private and feds rubbing hands and futures. For an overview of exactly how the chain operates (in case you're planning a stay or a stock buy) gander the list of its bountiful rules and regs: http://jya.com/bop-progstat.htm Inmates are forbidden access to the Internet (PS 1241.02 Internet and the World Wide Web), however, they are encouraged to do creative writing (PS 5350.07 Inmate Manuscripts), so Jim Bell, CJ and a few of us deserve a suite overlooking the garden of evil.

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Re: What's up with algebra.com? (fwd)
by Jim Choate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Forwarded message: > Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 19:44:37 -0400 > From: John Young <jya(a)pipeline.com> > Subject: Re: What's up with algebra.com? > What with the Feds now going after CJ for attempted > murder of federal officials (film ad overkill!), Jeff Gordon > soliciting cypherpunk subscribers to flesh that fancy, > and one CDR operator flattered with a subpoena, it'd be > prudent to have a way to check on whether a CDR node > has been taken down or turned, and the operator hogtied > with the system as evidence (or forced to run a sting to > gather it), before a clamp's put on telling what's going on. If anybody figures out a way to achieve such security I'd like to know. As far as I know the only way to keep a box up is to be sure that there are 'works in progress' from users who are not directly involved in the operation of the system. They are eligible for $1000/day each day they are deprived of access without a warrant. If they are completely uninvolved it *might* make a magistrate hesitate about generating a warrant. As to my subpoena, it looks like I *may* have to do nothing more than sign an affadavit saying that I didn't participate or discuss the above mentioned issues with CJ when he was in Austin. I should know more later in the week. I did find out that the reason they picked me was that when CJ was arrested he happened to be carrying a copy of the post I did several months ago in responce to a question regarding destroying floppy drives and computers using a floppy disk. Apparently they thought I might be some sort of mad-bomb designer or something. I have to assume that since I wasn't arrested at the first interview they figured I was reasonably harmless concerning assaults of the person or helping CJ in a material way. As to there being wiretaps and permanent LEA monitors on the list, you betcha. > May be too late, too late. Sigh. > Recall it's a major offense for revealing placement of a > wiretap, surveillance or a covert investigation -- especially > if you're assisting, willingly or unwillingly. They can take SSZ down or run it themselves (hope they got somebody that knows Linux 1.1.59 cause otherwise they won't be running it for long) but I won't participate in entrapment. And I suspect, though I don't know, that my arrest and lack of interaction with other users would set off flairs pretty quickly in that case. How long it might take to percolate back to Cypherpunks I don't have a clue. One major aspect of all this that I have found particularly unsettling is that I really don't have family or anybody for support. I think about the only thing worse than imagining oneself sitting in a jail with no hope of visitors, letters, etc. is a funeral with nobody there but the preacher. On a related issue, I have found it somewhat amusing that all the Austin Cpunks have scattered like a covey of quail. Only one of them even offered to help (Muchas gracias for the lawyer referals!). I had one person call and make sure that I knew they weren't at the meeting CJ attended. I'm seriously considering dropping sponsorship of the local group (and I sure as hell won't stop to help fix a flat now). > Consider that there are 118,000 federal prisoners. That's a very That means there are over 900,000 state, country, and municipal prisoners since there are over 1M in jail today. For a democracy that's incredibly damning. Legalize consenual crimes! ____________________________________________________________________ To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice. Confucius The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage(a)ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- -------------------------------------------------------------------- ps not crypto related but if you're a science book hound, check out: Elementary Mechanics of Fluids H. Rouse ISBN 0-486-63699-2 (Dover) $11.95 Physics by example: 200 problems and solutions WG Rees ISBN 0-521-44975-8 $? (I bought my copy used)

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Re: What's up with algebra.com? (fwd)
by Jim Choate 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Forwarded message: > Subject: Re: What's up with algebra.com? > Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 19:43:46 -0500 (CDT) > From: ichudov(a)algebra.com (Igor Chudov @ home) > As far as algebra.com is concerned, the list went down because > my upstream site just installed anti-relaying rules, and everything > going to algebra.com was rejected. Also, sendmail was not setuid > and could not create mqueue files. Hmm. Interesting. The errors I was recieving were from algebra.com and it complained of unknown user cypherpunks. > I wish I could boast receiving attention from the IRS/BATF or > whatever, but so far i has not happened. You're welcome to mine...:) ____________________________________________________________________ To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice. Confucius The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage(a)ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------

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IP: 'Intelligent' computer matches mugshots w/ faces in a crowd
by Vladimir Z. Nuri 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: believer(a)telepath.com Subject: IP: 'Intelligent' computer matches mugshots w/ faces in a crowd Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 08:46:25 -0500 To: believer(a)telepath.com Source: Fox News - AP 'Intelligent' computer system matches mug shots with faces in a crowd 9.22 p.m. ET (123 GMT) October 17, 1998 LONDON (AP) An "intelligent'' computer system that uses closed circuit television to match faces in a crowd to mug shots of known criminals is likely to become London's latest weapon against crime. Scotland Yard and a local council have installed the $100,000 CCTV system on a trial basis in Newham, a poor district in London's East End. Newspapers reported Thursday that the computer system, called Mandrake, is linked to 144 CCTVs in Newham's shopping centers, railway stations and car parks and can scan up to 150 faces at a time and compare them with a database of criminals stored on a computer at the council's headquarters. If there is a match between a face in the crowd and a known criminal, the computer alerts a monitoring team in the town hall, who in turn alert the police. Civil liberties groups said they were alarmed by the new system, but police defended its use. "The only people entered on to the system will be convicted criminals who, through our intelligence, we believe are habitually committing crimes in the area,'' The Daily Mail quoted police Chief Superintendent Dave Armond as saying. "If people are not committing crime they have nothing to fear, but if they are among the small minority who are, the message is, 'We are watching out for you.''' The newspaper reported that police initially will use the system to concentrate on catching robbery suspects. In the future, however, it could be used to search crowds for hooligans who stir up trouble at soccer matches. CCTV's developer, Software and Systems International, says the system is accurate enough to discern people hiding behind make-up or eye glasses. And growing a beard won't help either, the company says. Britain has 150,000 close circuit television cameras. While most Britons appear happy the devices are being used to tackle crime, civil liberties groups oppose both the cameras and the facial matching. "The accuracy of facial mapping like this is limited. You only need a handful of photographs of celebrities to see how different the same people can look in different pictures,'' the Mail quoted Liz Parratt, spokeswoman for Liberty, a civil rights group, as saying. "Even if you did have a system which worked, it would have to be regulated very carefully to protect people's privacy.'' © 1998 Associated Press. All rights reserved. ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----------------------- **************************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: majordomo(a)majordomo.pobox.com with the message: (un)subscribe ignition-point email@address or (un)subscribe ignition-point-digest email@address **************************************************** www.telepath.com/believer ****************************************************

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IP: Tracking: Plastic Passports w/Biometric Confirmation of ID
by Robert Hettinga 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

--- begin forwarded text Delivered-To: ignition-point(a)majordomo.pobox.com X-Sender: believer(a)telepath.com Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 10:01:41 -0500 To: believer(a)telepath.com From: believer(a)telepath.com Subject: IP: Tracking: Plastic Passports w/Biometric Confirmation of ID Mime-Version: 1.0 Sender: owner-ignition-point(a)majordomo.pobox.com Precedence: list Reply-To: believer(a)telepath.com Source: London Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000150689433551&rtmo=0GNxrbeq&atmo=99999 999&P4_FOLLOW_ON=/98/10/18/npass18.html&pg=/et/98/10/18/npass18.html Credit card plastic passport to be issued within two years By David Bamber, Home Affairs Correspondent A NEW credit card size passport which can be inserted in a computer scanner on arrival in another country will be issued to British travellers within two years. Trials are expected to begin soon of the system which allows passengers to bypass traditional immigration officials. When entering a country travellers would insert their plastic passport in a card reader and hold their hands to a screen to check palm prints. Both would be linked to a database containing travellers' details. The process would take 15 seconds and make lengthy airport queues a thing of the past. A prototype card with a digital photograph of the holder has already been developed. Passport Agency officials have been in discussions with the computer giant IBM about their Fastgate card system which has already been installed in Bermuda, a British colony. A passport agency official said: "It looks like a credit card and it can be swiped through Customs and allow people to enter a country without having their traditional passport examined by an official." He said that the new prototype had a digital hologram photograph of the holder and other special security devices which made forging them difficult. Last night a Home Office official confirmed that the credit card-style passport is being developed. He said: "We have become involved in the early stages of exploring the IBM Fastgate system." The official said that no date has yet been set to issue the cards to the public or to start trials at an airport in the Britain. But Home Office sources have revealed that a trial of the system is likely to be carried out by installing it at a Government building so that tests can be carried out to see if the security system can be breached. John Tincey, technology officer of the Immigration Service Union which represents 2,000 staff who check passports in Britain, said his members had been aware for some time of discussions about a computerised credit card style system. He has compiled a report for his union which was submitted to the Home Office. In it, he concluded: "The new technology will save on running costs, reduce staff numbers and increase profits. Even the Home Office will be unable to resist the financial advantages of the new technology." He added that because so many other countries will introduce credit card style systems, Britain would either lose business because of retaining lengthy checks on travellers, or alternatively loosen controls by selectively abandoning checks to minimise delays. Last night he also warned of possible job losses and the danger that the cards could be open to counterfeiting or abuse. At Bermuda International Airport, the Fastgate cards were introduced in May. Travellers use a touch screen to answer a few simple questions. The computer checks the data against information held on computers and also makes sure there are no arrest warrants out or requests to intercept the traveller. Usually the process takes just 15 seconds. Ken Thornton, of IBM, said: "Governments improve security and service. Airports improve competitiveness. And airlines and card issuers improve customers service." There is even the prospect of electronic visas being issued in the future, either as separate credit card style documents or logged on a computer. Even when the credit card style passports are introduced, the traditional paper passports will still be issued for some time because many countries will take years to install the necessary technology. © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 1998. ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----------------------- **************************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: majordomo(a)majordomo.pobox.com with the message: (un)subscribe ignition-point email@address or (un)subscribe ignition-point-digest email@address **************************************************** www.telepath.com/believer **************************************************** --- end forwarded text ----------------- Robert A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)philodox.com> Philodox Financial Technology Evangelism <http://www.philodox.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'

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IP: Tracking: Plastic Passports w/Biometric Confirmation of ID
by Vladimir Z. Nuri 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: believer(a)telepath.com Subject: IP: Tracking: Plastic Passports w/Biometric Confirmation of ID Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 10:01:41 -0500 To: believer(a)telepath.com Source: London Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000150689433551&rtmo=0GNxrbeq&atmo=99999 999&P4_FOLLOW_ON=/98/10/18/npass18.html&pg=/et/98/10/18/npass18.html Credit card plastic passport to be issued within two years By David Bamber, Home Affairs Correspondent A NEW credit card size passport which can be inserted in a computer scanner on arrival in another country will be issued to British travellers within two years. Trials are expected to begin soon of the system which allows passengers to bypass traditional immigration officials. When entering a country travellers would insert their plastic passport in a card reader and hold their hands to a screen to check palm prints. Both would be linked to a database containing travellers' details. The process would take 15 seconds and make lengthy airport queues a thing of the past. A prototype card with a digital photograph of the holder has already been developed. Passport Agency officials have been in discussions with the computer giant IBM about their Fastgate card system which has already been installed in Bermuda, a British colony. A passport agency official said: "It looks like a credit card and it can be swiped through Customs and allow people to enter a country without having their traditional passport examined by an official." He said that the new prototype had a digital hologram photograph of the holder and other special security devices which made forging them difficult. Last night a Home Office official confirmed that the credit card-style passport is being developed. He said: "We have become involved in the early stages of exploring the IBM Fastgate system." The official said that no date has yet been set to issue the cards to the public or to start trials at an airport in the Britain. But Home Office sources have revealed that a trial of the system is likely to be carried out by installing it at a Government building so that tests can be carried out to see if the security system can be breached. John Tincey, technology officer of the Immigration Service Union which represents 2,000 staff who check passports in Britain, said his members had been aware for some time of discussions about a computerised credit card style system. He has compiled a report for his union which was submitted to the Home Office. In it, he concluded: "The new technology will save on running costs, reduce staff numbers and increase profits. Even the Home Office will be unable to resist the financial advantages of the new technology." He added that because so many other countries will introduce credit card style systems, Britain would either lose business because of retaining lengthy checks on travellers, or alternatively loosen controls by selectively abandoning checks to minimise delays. Last night he also warned of possible job losses and the danger that the cards could be open to counterfeiting or abuse. At Bermuda International Airport, the Fastgate cards were introduced in May. Travellers use a touch screen to answer a few simple questions. The computer checks the data against information held on computers and also makes sure there are no arrest warrants out or requests to intercept the traveller. Usually the process takes just 15 seconds. Ken Thornton, of IBM, said: "Governments improve security and service. Airports improve competitiveness. And airlines and card issuers improve customers service." There is even the prospect of electronic visas being issued in the future, either as separate credit card style documents or logged on a computer. Even when the credit card style passports are introduced, the traditional paper passports will still be issued for some time because many countries will take years to install the necessary technology. © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 1998. ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----------------------- **************************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: majordomo(a)majordomo.pobox.com with the message: (un)subscribe ignition-point email@address or (un)subscribe ignition-point-digest email@address **************************************************** www.telepath.com/believer ****************************************************

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IP: Fwd: Evaluation of Vehicle Stopping Prototype ("Kill Switch")
by Vladimir Z. Nuri 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: Bridget973(a)aol.com Subject: IP: Fwd: Evaluation of Vehicle Stopping Prototype ("Kill Switch") Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 16:38:53 EDT To: ignition-point(a)majordomo.pobox.com (I am posting just in case this wasn't already posted to the list..Mary) Subject: Evaluation of Vehicle Stopping Electromagnetic Prototype Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 23:34:20 -0400 From: Matthew Gaylor <freematt(a)coil.com> To: Matthew Gaylor <freematt(a)coil.com> [Note from Matthew Gaylor: Several years ago on this list I mentioned that EMP devices will soon be used to stop car chases. Several of my subscribers wrote in and said I must be crazy, that I lived in a science fiction fantasy. Oh well, the future is now.] >From the US Justice Dept.'s NCJRS listservs <ncjrsadm(a)aspensys.com> * Evaluation of Vehicle Stopping Electromagnetic Prototype Devices: Phase III - Engineering Field Testing Solicitation To curtail high-speed chases, NIJ is requesting applications for prototype electromagnetic devices designed to stop motor vehicles that are in motion. Approved applicants will provide prototypes for field testing, with the hope of proceeding to operational testing by law enforcement agencies. The NIJ Solicitation, "Evaluation of Vehicle Stopping Electromagnetic Prototype Devices: Phase III - Engineering Field Testing," provides information on application requirements and deadlines. "Evaluation of Vehicle Stopping Electromagnetic Prototype Devices: Phase III - Engineering Field Testing" (Solicitation) (SL000298) is available on the NCJRS World Wide Web site (http://www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles/sl298.txt) ************************************************************************** Subscribe to Freematt's Alerts: Pro-Individual Rights Issues Send a blank message to: freematt(a)coil.com with the words subscribe FA on the subject line. List is private and moderated (7-30 messages per week) Matthew Gaylor,1933 E. Dublin-Granville Rd.,#176, Columbus, OH 43229 Archived at http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/listarch?list=FA@coil.com ************************************************************************** -- bridget973(a)aol.com Black Helicopters on the Horizon: http://members.xoom.com/bridget973 **************************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: majordomo(a)majordomo.pobox.com with the message: (un)subscribe ignition-point email@address or (un)subscribe ignition-point-digest email@address **************************************************** www.telepath.com/believer ****************************************************

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IP: High-tech Anti-crime Computer Unveiled
by Vladimir Z. Nuri 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

From: Jan <igniting(a)flash.net> Subject: IP: High-tech Anti-crime Computer Unveiled Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 20:10:22 -0500 To: Ignition-Point <ignition-point(a)majordomo.pobox.com> <center>The Associated Press </center> LONDON -- An "intelligent" computer system that uses closed circuit television to match faces in a crowd to mug shots of criminals is likely to become London's latest weapon against crime. Scotland Yard and a local council have installed the $100,000 CCTV system for a trial in Newham, a poor district in London's East End. Newspapers reported Thursday that the computer system, called Mandrake, is linked to 144 CCTV's in shopping centers, railway stations and car parks. Mandrake can scan up to 150 faces at a time and compare them with a database of criminal mug shots stored on a computer at council headquarters. If Mandrake makes a match between a face in the crowd and a criminal's mug shot, the computer alerts a monitoring team in the town hall, which alerts the police. Civil liberties groups said they were alarmed by the new system, but police defended its use. "The only people entered on to the system will be convicted criminals who, through our intelligence, we believe are habitually committing crimes in the area," The Daily Mail quoted police Chief Superintendent Dave Armond saying. "If people are not committing crimes, they have nothing to fear, but if they are among the small minority who are, the message is, 'We are watching out for you'. The newspaper reported that the police will initially use the system to concentrate on catching robbery suspects. However, in the future it could be used to search crowds for hooligans who stir up trouble at soccer matches. CCTV's developer, Software and Systems International, said the system is accurate enough to identify people hiding behind makeup or eyeglasses. Even growing a beard won't help, the company said. Britain has 150,000 closed circuit TV cameras. Although most Britons are used to the devices, civil liberties groups oppose the cameras and the facial matching. "The accuracy of facial matching like this is limited. You only need a handful of photographs of celebrities to see how different the same people can look in different pictures," the Mail quoted Liz Parratt, spokeswoman for the civil rights group liberty, as saying. "Even if you did have a system which worked, it would have to be regulated very carefully to protect people's privacy." Transcribed by Ryan Wright from Sunday, Oct 18, 1998, Star Telegram, Fort Worth Texas, Section A page 19 ******=========================================***** "Among the elementary measures the American Soviet government will adopt to further the cultural revolution are... [a] National Department of Education...the studies will be revolutionized, being cleansed of religious, patriotic, and other features of the bourgeois ideology. The students will be taught the basis of Marxian dialectical materialism, internationalism and the general ethics of the new Socialist society." - William Z. Foster, Toward Soviet America, 1932 "...Stage III...would proceed to a point where no state would have the military power to challenge the progressively strengthened U.N. peace force... The manufacture of armaments would be prohibited... All other armaments would be destroyed..." -Department of State publication number 7277 **************************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: majordomo(a)majordomo.pobox.com with the message: (un)subscribe ignition-point email@address or (un)subscribe ignition-point-digest email@address **************************************************** www.telepath.com/believer ****************************************************

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RE: 2 questions: Prime Numbers and DES
by Harvey Rook (Exchange) 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

> From: steve.benjamin(a)juno.com [mailto:steve.benjamin@juno.com] > > 1. How can I generate 2 large prime numbers? I doubt I > could create 2, > 100-digit prime numbers in my head :-) > For cryptographic purposes, you'll want to use a probabilistic test. Try reading through these links... http://www.utm.edu/research/primes/proving.html and... http://www.itl.nist.gov/div897/pubs/fip186.htm

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