[11508] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Re[2]: Two-way Internet service from Continental Cable?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Harry J. Saal)
Mon Apr 4 22:24:57 1994
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 94 13:58:00 PDT
From: "Harry J. Saal" <hsaal@svi.org>
To: com-priv@psi.com
My understanding of the Hybrid Networks system (which is definitely not the PSI
technology) is that each connection is pair-wise encrypted. I recall hearing that
it was DES (or at least "industrial strength").
So "sniffing" would be fruitless.
Take that from the father of the "Sniffer" (R) network analyzer. (And Steve: please
use the correct usage in the future. Network General doesn't wish to lose its
trademark rights to its product brand-name.)
>> From: karl@mcs.com (Karl Denninger)
>> Subject: Re: Re[2]: Two-way Internet service from Continental Cable?
>> To: 0003858921@mcimail.com (Robert G. Moskowitz)
>> Date sent: Fri, 1 Apr 1994 22:06:53 -0600 (CST)
>> Copies to: steve@nsf.gov, com-priv@psi.com
>
>> >
>> > S said:
>> >
>> > >If it's a shared medium, how difficult is it for a moderately capable one
>> > >of PSI's customers on the cable to listen in on what some other customers
>> > >are saying? Presumably it's slightly more difficult than hanging a
>> > >Sniffer on a vampire tap, but I wonder what safety mechanisms PSI has to
>> > >prevent their customers from wiretapping each other?
>> >
>> > Steve, it is soooo simple to turn a PC into an network analyser. I do it
>> > all the time at work. A number of commercial packages for ~$1K or PD
>> > packages do it...
>> >
>> > Bob
>> >
>>
>> The level of granularity in this case is the segment between backbone links
>> in the Cable TV plant.
>>
>> Knowing how these things are built (I used to work for a company that made
>> satcom earth station gear and had close contact with these folks) I'd say
>> that you could tap roughly 100-200 houses in most areas easily - and in
>> especially high density areas probably more.
>>
>> --
>> --
>> Karl Denninger (karl@MCS.COM) | MCSNet - Full Internet Connectivity (shell,
