Dan Odom clarifies some information about NSA, NCSC, Orange Book series, etc.:
I'm willing to accept that the Orange book doesn't specifically address cryptography, and I appreciate the clarifications on something that is one of the deepest, complex, and most obscure military handbooks, which
Uh, any American citizen is entitled to one (1) free copy of the Orange Book (and every other book in the Rainbow series); all you have to do is ask. The address on the inside of my copy says:
NCSC 9800 Savage Road Fort George G. Meade, MD 29755-6000
I got on this list of automatic books several years ago and now have about a dozen or more different publications, in different colors, from blue to green to the famous orange. All from the National Computer Security Center. Nothing juicy, and not much fun (for me) to read. Unix gurus trying to get better security classifications for their machines and systems have to read this stuff, though.
Since every NSA address I've ever seen is 9800 Savage Road, I assume that it's some sort of secretarial thing. But if you ask them for a copy of the Rainbow Series, they'll send it to you and also put you on the list to receive updates. It is _not_ deep, complex, or obscure;
Savage Road is the actual address of the Agency; Fort Meade per se is huge. NCSC as created in 1984 as part of NSDD-145 (National Security Decision Directive-145, a very important one). Prior to that date it had been called the DoD Computer Security Center, located smack dab in the center of SIGINT City. (I visited in May of 1991, strictly to satisfy my own curiousity. The closest I got was the front gate, with the newly installed "National Security Agency" signs. Signs said "Das Photographen ist Strictly Verboten," but I took a bunch anyway out my car window.)
And before anybody starts forming consipiracy theories, I am not related to Lieutenant General William Odom; we just share a name :-).
I'd long been meaning to ask Dan about this. General Odom once was introduced at a speech he was giving to Jim Bamford. Odom recoiled and said "Sir, I consider you to be an unindicted felon." -Tim -- .......................................................................... Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@netcom.com | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero 408-688-5409 | knowledge, reputations, information markets, W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA | black markets, collapse of governments. Higher Power: 2^756839 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available. Note: I put time and money into writing this posting. I hope you enjoy it.