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Marking: A Privacy Protecting Approach Against Blackmailing
by lcs Mixmaster Remailer 07 Jun '01

07 Jun '01

http://www.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de/GK/participants/kuegler/pkc01_marking…: Marking: A Privacy Protecting Approach Against Blackmailing Dennis Kuegler and Holger Vogt Blind signature based anonymous payment systems [Cha83] have been invented for privacy protecting payments over the internet. However, it was discovered by von Solms and Naccache [vSN92] that unconditional anonymity may be misused by criminals: A blackmailer can exploit the properties of the used blind signature to receive blackmailed money from his victim so that neither the victim nor the bank are able to recognize the blackmailed coins later. Furthermore, the blackmailed coins can be transferred anonymously via an unobservable broadcast channel (e.g. a newsgroup). This attack is called the perfect crime, as it is impossible to identify or trace the blackmailer. To solve anonymity related problems as blackmailing, money laundering, or illegal purchases, payment systems with revokable anonymity have been proposed [CMS96, JY96, FTY96, JY97]. In these payment systems trusted third parties are able to revoke the anonymity of the users at any time. In our opinion blackmailing is the most serious drawback of the known payment systems offering unconditional anonymity. Attacks like money laundering and illegal purchases aren't a major problem in anonymous electronic payment systems, as these problems are even worse with physical cash [Fro96], because in anonymous electronic payment systems the bank always knows how much a customer withdraws and how much a person deposits. Thus the bank is able to detect either the initiator or the recipient of a suspicious transaction. In this paper we will show how to fight blackmailing without restricting the anonymity of users as it is done in systems with revokable anonymity. We present a new online payment scheme, which offers unconditional anonymity, but does not suffer from the blackmailing attack described above.

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Global Name Registry Hopes To Score Big With '.Name'
by George＠Orwellian.Org 07 Jun '01

07 Jun '01

Excerpt: # GNR is billing ".name" as more than a Web address. Along with # technology partners such as New York-based Speednames Inc. and # International Business Machines Corp., the U.K. company hopes # to transform .name addresses into a multipurpose "digital # identity" that can also serve as an e-mail address, cellphone # number and even an electronic credit card. # # Instead of typing in a credit card number, customers could simply # provide their ".name" address, and merchants would then be able # to retrieve the financial information from a secure server hosted # by a bank or other "trusted" institution, the company says. ---- http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB991855694886302396.htm # # June 7, 2001 # # Global Name Registry Hopes To Score Big With '.Name' # # By BUSTER KANTROW Dow Jones Newswires # # STOCKHOLM -- What's in a .name? # # For Britain's Global Name Registry Ltd., the hope is, a lot. # The London-based start-up is the global administrator for ".name," # one of the new top-level Internet domain names to be introduced # this year. # # As the gatekeeper for the entire domain, GNR will begin # distributing ".name" addresses this autumn, collecting a $5.25 # (6.16 euros) wholesale registration fee and a similar annual # renewal fee for each one it hands out. # # The company also plans to provide more than just a name. It hopes # to transform the .name addresses into a multipurpose tool that # can receive e-mail or serve as a virtual credit card. # # It's a formula that could pay off in millions or even billions # of dollars in annual revenue, if demand for ".name" Internet # suffixes takes off. # # "People have an emotional affinity for their names," said GNR's # chief executive, Andrew Tsai, in a recent interview. "Clearly, # Icann picked a space where they thought millions and millions # of people wanted addresses." # # New Competition Ahead # # Originally a spinoff of Norway's Nameplanet.com, which operates # a free Web-based, e-mail service, GNR beat dozens of other # applicants to the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers, # or Icann, the U.S.-based agency that manages the Internet-address # system. The would-be registries included such familiar names # as Finland's Nokia Corp. and Lycos Inc. # # The new top-level domains -- which include ".biz," ".info" and # ".museum" -- are intended to create new competition in the # domain-name space, which has been dominated by California-based # VeriSign Inc., central administrator of the ubiquitous ".com" # suffix. # # VeriSign's control of the ".com" suffix was recently extended # by Icann, despite criticism from the Internet community, where # there has been some resentment of the company's monopoly position. # VeriSign has agreed to relinquish control of the ".org" and ".net" # suffixes. # # Mr. Tsai, formerly president of Urbanfetch Ltd., said he thought # the initial demand for the new domains would be strongest in # North America. But he said registrars, who act as middlemen # between the U.K. company and individual customers, are also # reporting strong interest in the ".name" domain from China, Korea # and other parts of Southeast Asia. # # "The opportunities are mind-boggling, but this is a very, very # challenging discipline, to set up a registry," he said. "We # consider ourselves a technology infrastructure company, and we # don't take for granted the challenges of implementing this # business plan." # # GNR's backers include Carlyle Europe Venture Partners LP, # Northzone Ventures AS and Four Seasons Venture AS. # # With the lucrative ".name" registry in hand, it is Nameplanet # that is now the subsidiary of GNR. "The student has become the # teacher," says Mr. Tsai. # # GNR is billing ".name" as more than a Web address. Along with # technology partners such as New York-based Speednames Inc. and # International Business Machines Corp., the U.K. company hopes # to transform .name addresses into a multipurpose "digital # identity" that can also serve as an e-mail address, cellphone # number and even an electronic credit card. # # Instead of typing in a credit card number, customers could simply # provide their ".name" address, and merchants would then be able # to retrieve the financial information from a secure server hosted # by a bank or other "trusted" institution, the company says. # # Such value-added services are expected to provide an additional # revenue stream for GNR, as well as for the registrars. # # "There is no other domain out there currently that has any # functionality," says Mr. Tsai. # # GNR moved a step closer to launching the new addresses over the # weekend here, as Icann set a deadline of June 30 for giving final, # formal approval to the new domain. # # Manifest Destiny # # Once the approval is secured, GNR will begin handing out names # to around 80 registrars around the world, who will sell them # to individuals, Mr. Tsai said. # # The addresses will be registered with two dots (i.e., # joseph.smith.name) in order to maximize the potential # combinations, and will be introduced in phases. # # The new addresses are reserved for individuals. But companies # and others will first have an opportunity to ask that addresses # related to their trademarks be removed from the database. # # GNR will then launch a series of two-week "land rushes" when # registrars may submit lists of requested addresses. If two # individuals request the same address, one of the two will be # randomly chosen, Mr. Tsai said. # # The first names should be available to individuals by early # autumn, the company said. # # GNR says there will be five to 10 land rushes, then names will # be handed out as requested. Registrars are expected to sell the # addresses for $20 to $35 annually -- roughly what a ".com" address # costs now, Mr. Tsai said.

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FW: RE: The Credentialling of America
by Sandy Sandfort 07 Jun '01

07 Jun '01

For those of you who didn't get the picture, Len Sassaman has kindly put it up at: http://sion.quickie.net/GunnyBunny.jpg > > > "George" wrote: > > > > > > > My female bunnies have expressed an intense > > > > sexual interest in meeting this person. > > > > > > How about the attached person? > > > > > > > > > S a n d y

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hi/fresh NSA+echelon rant
by V.Z. Nuri 07 Jun '01

07 Jun '01

another hi to old cohorts. can echelon be exposed? can it be trounced? I'm looking for any old article by someone who lambastes the idea of a global data collection system as impossible, infeasible, etc. the more credible the author/outlet, the better. ideally a smug op-ed piece in some uptight mainstream newspaper etcetera. the idea is to get the most closeminded denunciation of the idea possible to show it in contrast with new information about echelon/carnivore/CIA datamining capabilities. useful propaganda. for your amusement. a fresh rant on the NSA, their role in blocking the RSA patent, and echelon.. and the idea of CIA/carnivore press info as diversionary tactics. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theory-edge/message/3180 stop by theory-edge if you want to talk about hard-core algorithms or mathematics. its a pretty civil environment. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theory-edge/ also.. you guys were all scratching your heads at the meeting when I brought up this subject many years ago..(haha yeah a little "spoofing") a little more on that.. "silent weapons for quiet wars".. what is the cypherpunk opinion on this one? would really like to get more supporting material on this. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theory-edge/message/3149 I am not on the list but will reply to emails. oh yeah, you guys may be vaguely curious as to what Ive been up to. here's a new htmlized group faq for theory-edge.. I suppose you can see why we may have had a few disagreements over philosophy.. also what I'm aiming for.. hope to add much more, barely just the beginning http://www.geocities.com/vznuri/faq.html * * * I noticed the cpunk archives go all the way back to 93 and further after an old post turned up in my google search. haha how delightful. hey TCM, old pal, you are still around here right? how about you join the cyberspace age.. just a little? how about a home page? and hey, you could start your own yahoo group too, easily. really, I wish you would do it. I'd probably watch it. consider the easy capability of throwing out anyone you think is a useless specimen. yahoo groups have a built in blocking mechanism. I've used it on two occasions already. the spam problem seems to be almost totally solved by just preventing nonsubscribers from posting. cyberspace has evolved a bit.. as you once said "let a thousand flowers bloom".. well they have =) http://groups.yahoo.com hey, I've also noticed something else re: tragedy of the commons problem. you can civilize people with the leverage of leading a mailing list and the blocking feature. the founder picks the atmosphere. if he's into stuff like "integrity" that others feel is impossible to impose, he can give it a shot in cultivating it... you can all decide to what degree Ive succeeded and whether the goals are worthwhile. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

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A message from Biggus Dickus
by BigDick＠Legion.com 07 Jun '01

07 Jun '01

Hello Cypherpunks, Biggus Dickus thought you would be interested in this article from TIME.com: TIME.com: -- Why G-Men Need IT Professionals http://www.time.com/time/columnist/article/0,9565,129516,00.html --------------------------------------------------------------------- For more stories, visit TIME.com: http://www.time.com

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Advertisement - Computer Hardware Specials from Sunset Marketing, Inc.
by Computer Hardware Specials 07 Jun '01

07 Jun '01

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RE: MS adds their two bits to the credentialing of America
by Roy M. Silvernail 07 Jun '01

07 Jun '01

On 7 Jun 2001, at 9:55, Paul E. Robichaux wrote: > I don't think that anti-nymity is a bias, it's just an unfortunate > side effect. Most consumers want single sign-on. Microsoft wants to > give it to them. If you don't like it, you can always get the same > effect by using a nym and those nifty prepaid Amex cards you can buy > at 7-11. OK, I can buy that. But would it be wild speculation to predict that the online identity eventually gets tied to the Windows user login? This still doesn't prevent nymity (barring biometric logon and prevention of multiple accounts using the same biotoken, but I don't want to go too far afield), but it makes it less convenient. By the time J. Random Luser realizes he wants (needs?) to nymify, the barriers to entry are in place. The third 'E'. -- Roy M. Silvernail Proprietor, scytale.com roy(a)scytale.com

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Isolationist tendencies and Urban Life
by Jim Choate 07 Jun '01

07 Jun '01

http://www.Kuro5hin.org/?op=displaystory;sid=2001/6/5/163224/9146

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FW: Nepal
by Sandy Sandfort 07 Jun '01

07 Jun '01

I got the following anonymous e-mail from A. Melon. > -----Original Message----- > From: A. Melon [mailto:juicy@melontraffickers.com] > Sent: 07 June, 2001 09:24 > To: sandfort(a)mindspring.com > Subject: Nepal > > > > I understand that Nepal might not seem like much of a big deal > but some of us knew the Royal Family. Still others of us knew > and LIKED the Royal Family. I am hardly the type to push > political correctness but your comment struck me to the heart. > Having watched your postings over the years I suppose that I > expected more from you, Sandy. Since A. Melon is hiding, I couldn't answer him/her directly. So I'll use this forum. Even assuming the writer's dubious claims, my question is, why? Why does the writer think my response was politically incorrect? Why was the writer struck to the heart? Why did the writer expect more from me? Perhaps the writer is injecting more into my simple post than was actually meant. Inquiring minds want to know. S a n d y

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StockNight Newsletter - LearnCom Recaps its Strategy and Results
by Stocknight ListServer 07 Jun '01

07 Jun '01

[Stocknight.com] [Image] [Image] Issue 7 June 6, 2001 Editor's Note [Image] Today, in our continued effort to bring you breaking after market news we have chosen to feature a company whose business model revolves around corporate risk management. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao recently stated "Every day 16 workers still lose their lives in this country. And every hour 650 workers experience an injury or illness on the job. While these numbers are steadily coming down, they are still far too high." OSHA compliance and workplace safety is just one of the areas of Risk Management in which LearnCom engages. Read on! Breaking News [Image] LearnCom, Inc.'s (otcbb: LRCM) four Business Units provide single-source learning resources and consulting services to businesses, government agencies and other non-profit organizations. The Company focuses on human resources, management and safety training - specializing in diversity and critical compliance areas including harassment prevention, employment law and OSHA-required training. LearnCom's resources are provided in a variety of formats including Internet and Intranet delivery, video and CD-ROM. For additional information, visit www.learncom.com, www.videolrn.com and www.trainseek.com. Today at approximately 38 minutes after the market's close, LearnCom (otcbb: LRCM) issued a press release. Obviously, due to the late release the market as yet has not been able to react. The release has been excerpted below. Click here for the entire relase: LRCM BREAKING NEWS LearnCom Recaps its Strategy and Results CEO Provides Recap of Strategy and Progress. LearnCom CEO Lloyd Singer stated, ``Our goal is to become the major supplier of soft skills training resources and related services in the highly fractionated $60 billion training industry. The (company's) first acquisition in January, 1999 included the high quality video assets (several hundred titles) of WingsNet, Inc. and provided the foundation to get the business started. By midyear, '99 we were cash neutral on just $750,000 in sales and provided our backers with the confidence to fund further growth. In August, 1999, we acquired the stock of BNA Communications, a 50 year producer/distributor of high quality video courseware specializing in harassment prevention, diversity and employment law. The company had been a subsidiary of The Bureau of National Affairs, the large Washington, D.C. publisher and information provider to the legal and HR professions. In January, 2001, we acquired the stock of venerable distributor, VideoLearning Systems, Inc. (VLS). This deal provided an additional eight salespeople, and three excellent managers. Integration is proceeding on schedule. VLS is on track to generate $2.5 million in revenue in 2001. Again, this is just part of the entire release issued after the close today. Click here to read it in its entirety: LRCM NEWS Related links, Due Diligence & Financials: LearnCom Corporate HomePage More LearnCom Financial Data LearnCom Chart Full 10Q for LRCM (PDF Format) Disclaimer & Safe Harbor Statement: SafeHarbor: This fact sheet contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of the 1934. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as may, could, expected to and believes. Actual events or performance involve risks and uncertainties that could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements include competition, themanagement of our growth and the ability to deliver new products to market on time. Such forward-looking statements are subject to other risks and uncertainties, which are detailed in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclaimer: StockNight.com is a property of Market Pathways Financial Relations Incorporated (MP). The information, opinions and analysis contained herein are based on sources believed to be reliable but no representation, expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, completeness or correctness. This report is for information purposes only and should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. MP has been paid $15,000 by Buena Vista Consulting Inc., which holds an investment in the subject company, for the preparation and dissemination of this report. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to MPs ability to remain objective in its communication regarding the subject company. Write or call MP for detailed disclosure as required by Rule 17b of the Securities Act of 1933/1934. MP is not an investment advisor and this report is not investment advice. This information is neither a solicitation to buy nor an offer to sell securities. Information contained herein contains forward-looking statements and is subject to significant risks and uncertainties, which will affect the results. The opinions contained herein reflect our current judgment and are subject to change without notice. MP and/or its affiliates, associates and employees from time to time may have either a long or short position in securities mentioned. 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