CDR: Re: why should it be trusted?

[Tim May]

At 8:50 PM -0700 10/16/00, Nathan Saper wrote:
>
>On Mon, Oct 16, 2000 at 08:12:53PM -0700, Tim May wrote:
>
>  >
>>  What is the basis for this claim about the NSA having such expertise
>>  and technology? Paranoia, ESP, cluelessness, or actual knowledge?
>>
>
>Speculation, nothing more.  Notice the "IMHO" above.  I'm not claiming
>to be stating facts.

I asked you to provide some _basis_ for your claim, not to quibble 
about "not claiming to be stating facts."
>
>Most crypto algorithms are mathematically sound.  I'm not worried
>about the NSA finding some miraculous way to factor large numbers.
>I'm worried about the NSA discovering security bugs in crypto tools.

Recall that your precise words were:

"IMHO, the NSA has enough expertise and technology to crack just about
any cipher out there."

This is a claim about _ciphers_, a claim often made by the clueless. 
("Any cipher can be broken...," "The NSA has more than enough 
computer power...," are the most common variants.)

You are a twit.


--Tim May
-- 
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May              | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
ComSec 3DES:   831-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA  | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
"Cyphernomicon"             | black markets, collapse of governments.