Date: Thu, 18 Nov 93 12:04:51 -0500 From: "Alan (Gesture Man) Wexelblat" <wex@media.mit.edu>
This is kind of off-topic, but I thought the classic three-person cell was as follows:
A / \ B - C / \ D G / \ / \ E - F H - I
where a line shows cell membership. So A commands a cell of himself, B and C but knows no one below. A is either the leader, or is known by one member above. B knows D is the leader of another cell, but does not know who E and F are (or even if they exist). Similarly for C.
This organization is vulnerable in two ways: any one person can give up three others; and the chain can be followed (e.g. compromising B can lead to compromising D and then to E, etc.). Because information has to flow between the cells, there is potential for compromise.
I can't think of a way around this problem. If information flows from B to E, either B must know of E's existence or non-existence.
See R. A. Heinleins's ``Moon is a Harsh Mistress'' for some discussion of this topic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chet Edelman "Truth is a blanket that leaves your feet out in the cold" D.P.S. EMAIL: coe@panix.com SNAIL: 1718 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11230 VMAIL: (718) 338-1432