Use crypto, face a death squad

[Tim May]

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."