On Aug 23, 1996 18:34:42, '"Institute for Security and Intelligence" <isi@hooked.net>' wrote:

John:

Your message regarding my comments on CyberTerrorism was forwarded to me.

Rather than waxing poetic beration, how about some actually useful perspective?

If you have experience in this area, let's talk. If you have something to

contribute, let's get it out where it can be useful.

It's time to put up, or shut up John.

Regards, Barry C. Collin

--------- Dear Mr. Collin, Thank you for writing. And for the cyber-terrorism hoot, which helps purge ignorant fears with insightful laughter. The best way I know for citizens to ease their induced- panic of terrorism in all forms -- gov, com, edu, org -- is to become more informed. And to be wary of "terrorist threats" in all their burgeoning guises -- "national security" being one of the most deceitful. To counter Nat Sec snake oil in the rising commerce in "cyber-terrorism" (a residue of the natsec oil tank) citizens should participate in the wit and wisdom of wide-open Internet mail-lists dealing with computer privacy and security. The best of these is the list Cypherpunks. (E-mail "info" to majordomo@toad.com.) Cypherpunks, far more tolerant and less treacherously commercially self-serving than all others, explores an amazing range of CompSec issues, technologies, policies, strategies and fantasies. Its archive of several years offers a historical treasure on the transformation of state control of comp tech to its service of the citizenry. This is exemplified by Cypherpunks primary focus, cryptography, and the diverse ways it has moved from narrow use to conceal privileged power to widespread application to protect individual privacy (especially those dissenting to heirarchical authority -- gov, com, edu, org). Your agent provocateurist comedy on cyber-terrorist inebriation could be enriched by hanging on Cypherpunks, say, your buffoonery for secret briefing. "If you knew what I knew" is a natsec-butt joke there, as it is becoming globally to liberated citizen-units bellowing "FA." Congrats on exposing TLA-dementia of cyber-terrorism and defanging its counter-agents by encouraging belly- laughing at the all-too-blatant hype-artistry. Only Jim Kallstrom does it better. Best regards, jya