17 Dec
2003
17 Dec
'03
11:17 p.m.
From: uri@watson.ibm.com Date: Thu, 28 Apr 1994 15:10:39 -0500 (EDT)
jpp@markv.com says:
Wasn't there some concern on IBM's part about liability -- Thus the US Governments participation, including the 'secret' changes to DES?
Liabilities? To who and about what? Since it became a standard, the US Gov't assumed the responsibility...
Oh, for instance, say liability to the banks who's electronic fund transfers were stolen or forged. But yeah, my understanding was that IBM wouldn't release the cipher for general consumption unless some Gov't would 'standardize' it and take the liability heat. Even the smaller 56 bit key was IBM's idea? Why!??!? Weren't they in the business of making a _strong_ cipher? j'