From cypherpunks-request@toad.com Mon Feb 22 23:23:46 1993 To: cypherpunks@toad.com Subject: Re: Rambo Lives Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1993 20:37:25 MST From: Brad Huntting <huntting@glarp.com> Content-Length: 649

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I say we should ensure that as many citizens as possible get ahold of PGP as soon as possible.

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Definitely. Spread the source.

But to realy get PGP going (or PEM for that matter) will require wide spread key distribution. It's clear that such distribution mechanisms are not going to arise out of any "respectfull" institutions mostly because of the legal entanglements they present.

Perhaps the time has come for "alt.pgp.keyrings". A standard format for postings could allow them to be automatically added to global keyrings at usenet sites everywhere. Several security issues will have to be addressed before this can work.

I see statements like this over and over again and I can't help but believe it is due to extremely widespread ignorance about PGP keys. There is no need for widespread key distribution, folks. If you want to communicate with someone, provided their key has been signed by someone who's signature you trust, you can just ask them, in the clear, to email you their key, and all should be just fine. Some people seem to obsessively keep hundreds and thousands of keys around. Why? Whats the point? You can always just get keys from people any time you like. There is no problem. Perry