Breaking into girlfriend's files

Thu Dec 22 19:24:27 PST 1994

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In article <199412230045.TAA21904 at thor.cs.umass.edu>,
"L. McCarthy" <lmccarth at thor.cs.umass.edu> wrote:
>Dave Horsfall writes:
>> ADAM GERSTEIN, _THE_ MACGURU writes:
>> > A friend of mine thinks his girlfriend has been cheating on him, and
>> > thinks the proof may be in a few Norton Encrypt files.  Is there anyway
>> > to get the password with a data/resource editor, or is he shit-out-of-luck

>> Boy; talk about an inappropriate use of technology...  Is "privacy"
>> in that guy's vocabulary?  I respectfully submit that if he has to
>> start snooping on her, the relationship is over anyway.

GROAN! What the hell is this list about anyway?????? I think we are losing
perspective about encryption, privacy etc etc...

Putting it quite simply, the individual was asking about how to make an attack
on an opponent. Whether that opponent is a girlfriend, spouse, competitor or
terrorist group, who cares? Lets save the sermonizing for Ann Landers...what
state the relationship is irrelevant.

The gentleman asked a question regarding a standard cryptographic problem...
how you can intercept and interpret encrypted information, either in theory
in practice. To make judgement calls is WAY out of line and a hell of a bad
precedent for this group.

I bet the poster would have gotten a more sympathetic response if he said he
had gotton his hands on a diplomatic cable....

>
>My sentiments exactly. Whether or not she's two-timing, I imagine she'd be
>pretty upset (and justifiably so) if she knew her boyfriend wants to break
>into her private documents. He should *ask* her straight out to confirm or
>deny his suspicions. If he doesn't like the answer, he should get out.

Oh boy! Pretty soon we will have this list as "cypherpunks giving advice to
the lovelorn..."!!! Lets cut the crap, stick to the problem at hand and
offer solutions to what the participants of the list know best, namely the
the use and analysis of cryptographic problems.

Save the relationship bullshit for Masters and Johnson....

>
>Someone needs to give her PGP ASAP, IMHO....

Sure, from a disspassionate point of view, I agree. But I thought that the
whole point of this list was the promotion of PGP and the discussion of
the pro's and con's of encryption in general. That should include attacking
as well as defense.

Since, how can you rationally discuss defense unless you know what kind of
attack your opponents can mount against you???????