Jeff's response is exactly what I was hoping for! The "Cypherpunks distribution" version of Linux would be a great way to spread cheap remailer technology on cheap Linux boxes. Hell, I might even augment my Macs with one of these things! Jeff Licquia wrote:
The "Linux mavens" followed by the "black box" stuff sparked an idea...
First, before delving into dreamland: I'm sure Linux could be hung off just about any store-and-forward (a la UUCP) or TCP/IP-based network there is with a minimum of trouble.
This is what I'd expect....I just don't know the details.
Now how 'bout this: Consider a new distribution of Linux, the "Cypherpunk" distribution (if ya don't like the name, make up yer own!). This would be a bare minimum of a distribution, with nothing fancy: bash, misc. utils like ls, etc. This can fit (tightly) in 20 MB. The supplied kernel would have every networking option under the sun turned on, but would be otherwise bare of frills as well. Now let's add minimal network utils (telnet and telnetd for connecting and sendmail for obvious reasons), perl, PGP, and a remailer package. To make it as easy as possible, I'd use the UMSDOS filesystem, so that Linux could be installed on a DOS machine without any reformatting, repartitioning, or similar headaches.
A great idea. This could be the "remailer in a box" we've been talking about for a long time. Could also include a package of security and crypto utilities, etc. Sort of what the "Gnu" folks might do if they were involved in crypto. (By "involved in crypto" I mean of course Cypherpunks sorts of concerns, which Stallman seems to have not much interest in, at least publically.)
We could make this available via FTP or press some CD-ROMs if we were ambitious. Better yet, the cool Linux thing to do now is to install via NFS; this makes installing Linux as easy as sticking in a boot disk and pointing the install program at the NFS server (well, not quite, but pretty close). After adding in the cute little install program (like the Slackware distribution already has) and some boot options, you'd have an "instant remailer" software package, able to transform any 386SX/4MB RAM DOS machine or better into a Linux-based remailer site, complete with aliases, logging policies, etc. already configured for you. I bet even Tim May could install this if it were done right. :-)
Well, if I take the other side of the bet, that I *can't*, is that kosher?
So, am I dreaming, or does this sound viable to y'all?
Sounds very good to me. --Tim May -- .......................................................................... Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@netcom.com | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero | knowledge, reputations, information markets, W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA | black markets, collapse of governments. Higher Power: 2^859433 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available. Cypherpunks list: majordomo@toad.com with body message of only: subscribe cypherpunks. FAQ available at ftp.netcom.com in pub/tc/tcmay