(My traffic from the Cypherpunks list comes in bursts interspersed by long gaps, so I don't know if this has been reported. It seems significant to me.) A few excerpts: H-P ( Hewlett-Packard Co ) says RSA Data ( Security Dynamics Technologies Inc ) in codes deal PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov 15 (Reuter) - Hewlett-Packard Co. said Security Dynamics Technologies Inc's RSA Data Security Inc electronic encryption company is involved in its planned announcement Monday of new advance in encryption technology. Hewlett-Packard said technology the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Lewis Platt is due to detail at the National Press Club on Monday aims to resolve this roadblock in the use of electronic commerce over the Internet. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^[emphasis added by Tim] Hewlett-Packard officials declined to give precise details, but said the technology has already received backing from the U.S. government and other ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ governments which it did not name, as well as major industry players. Senior executives of Microsoft Corp and Intel Corp are among those scheduled to make presentations on Monday, Hewlett-Packard said, but it declined to identify other companies whose technologies will be involved. ----end of item--- It sounds ominous to me. Another backroom deal, probably for some form of key recovery strategy, aka GAK. --Tim May, awaiting Monday's announcement with trepidation "The government announcement is disastrous," said Jim Bidzos,.."We warned IBM that the National Security Agency would try to twist their technology." [NYT, 1996-10-02] We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, I know that that ain't allowed. ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^1,257,787-1 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."