From: Scott Brickner <sjb@universe.digex.net> Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 15:13:27 -0600 Subject: Re: NSA, ITAR, NCSA and plug-in hooks.
The problem is that the non-encryption program must use the same interface as the encryption program. Text compression is often cited as an example of a non-encryption program that can use the same hooks as a compression program, but there's a key difference: the text compressor *doesn't* need a key.
The encryption tool would have an interface like Boolean (*)( DataSource, DataSink, void*);
A compressor written to the same interface would never need to touch that third argument. Therefore, the second argument is "specifically designed" to permit an encryption tool to be used.
You'd need a program which not only *accepted* the additional parameter, but also *needed* the second parameter. I confess I have some difficulty thinking of one.
PKZIP allows encryption (other's ?). How about a hook to that? _____________________________________________________________ "We work in the dark We do what we can We give what we have Our doubt is our passion And our passion is our task The rest is the madness of art." --Henry James ___________________________________________________________