At 7:25 PM -0700 10/23/97, Peter Gutmann wrote:
There have been various rumours and comments over the past few years that the use of crypto in certain countries (Syria, Iraq, possibly China) is very dangerous for the end user, but very little actual evidence to substantiate this. About a week ago I got some evidence (well, something better than the usual rumours) on the situation with using crypto in Iraq which people might find interesting. ... He can't remember the exact details any more, but the implication was that any encrypted messages sent to them would result in them quietly disappearing.
Sounds like an easy way to get rid of business competitors, enemies, etc. Just send them an encrypted message. If paranoid, use a remailer. As soon as some of those Islamic fundamentalists get on the Net, look out! By the way, when PGP Snoopware becomes more widespread, and companies start bouncing e-mail messages not properly encrypted to the Security Department's CMR key, I plan to start lobbing encrypted messages to random employees, marked "URGENT." Be interesting to then send them followups, "But didn't you get the message I marked "URGENT" for you? Well, it's too late now...." Monkeywrenching Snoopware is going to be _fun_. --Tim May The Feds have shown their hand: they want a ban on domestic cryptography ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, ComSec 3DES: 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^2,976,221 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."