[1556] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Internet paranoia
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (HUGH PRESTON)
Fri Nov 8 02:00:23 1991
Date: 27 Oct 91 11:11:00 GMT-9:00
From: HUGH PRESTON <hpreston@OSAN-EMH.AF.MIL>
To: 3b2-ug <3b2-ug@gunter-emh.af.mil>
Resent-From: bstring@mainz-emh2.army.mil
Resent-To: com-priv%psi.com@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 27-Oct-1991 11:10am KST
From: HUGH PRESTON
HPRESTON
Dept: SVC
Tel No: (315)784-6453
TO: Remote Addressee ( __3B2-UG@GUNTER-EMH.AF.MIL )
Subject: Internet paranoia
Hello all,
Recently received a message from our headquarters (PACAF) that has me a
bit worried. Possibly you have seen it also but I'll repeat the pertinent
parts here for all just in case.
-----------------------------
021815Z OCT 91
SUBJ: GLOBAL INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS
REF: USAF-SCMB/271630ZSEP91/
1. THE FOLLOWING HQ USAF/SCMB MESSAGE IS PARTIALLY QUOTED FOR YOU ACTION AS
APPLICABLE IN PARA 3:
QUOTE
REF: JCS/J6 MSG 300845Z AUG 91, SAME SUBJECT (NOTAL)
1 REFERENCE A TASKED SERVICES/AGENCIES TO DETERMINE IF THE DEFENSE DATA
NETWORK (DDN) MILNET/INTERNET IS A VALID REQUIREMENT. THE MILNET PORTION OF
DDN IS CONNECTED TO SEND ELECTRONIC MAIL TO NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, (I.E.,
CONTRACTORS, ACADEMIC, ETC.) JOINT STAFF'S INFORMAL INPUT INDICATES NETWORK
MANAGERS AND HOST ADMINISTRATORS HAVE A DESIRE TO MAINTAIN OPEN COMMUNICATIONS
WITH THE GLOBAL INTERNET. HOWEVER, RECENT SURVEY INDICATES THE REQUIREMENT FOR
CONNECTION COULD BE AS LOW AS 16 PERCENT.
2. JOINT STAFF IS CONCERNED WITH THE SECURITY ASPECTS OF THE MILNET/INTERNET
CONNECTION. IF MILNET/INTERNET IS A VALID REQUIREMENT A REASONABLE LEVEL OF
SECURITY MUST BE IMPLEMENTED ON THE MILNET. IF NOT, THEN DISCONNECTING MILNET
FORM THE INTERNET MAY BE AN OPTION.
3 REQUEST THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BE PROVIDED BY 4 OCT 91.
A. ARE THERE CURRENTLY, OR PLANNED TO BE, HOST DIRECTLY CONNECT TO THE MILNET
OR LOCAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS CONNECTED TO THE MILNET THAT MUST COMMUNICATE
WITH SYSTEMS ON NON-DOD NETWORKS TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION (YES/NO)?
B. IF YES, PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:
(1) FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL (FTP) OR FILE TRANSFER ACCESS MANAGEMENT (FTAM).
(2) SIMPLE MAIL TRANSFER PROTOCOL (SMTP) OR X.400
(3) TELENET OR VIRTUAL TERMINAL PROTOCOL (VTP)
(4) NETWORK NEWS TRANSFER PROTOCOL (NNTP)
(5) USER DATAGRAM PROTOCOL (UDP)
(6) USER (I.E., HOST MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL, SIMPLE NETWORK MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL,
ETC.)
(7) WHAT IS THE APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF INTERNET ADDRESSEES, THAT WOULD HAVE TO
BE ACCESSED?
(8) HOW FREQUENTLY IS THE INTERNET USED?
3. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR RESPONSE NLT 16 OCT 91.
---------------------
Of course, the above got to me well after the suspense date set by my
Headquarters! The impact of this tends to make me think we are suffering from
a good measure of paranoia which could end up giving us in DOD a closed system
which will cease to grow in both capabilities and knowledge. Sure, there are
risks associated with MILNET getting a worm or virus but then, I could get hit
by a truck in the parking lot this afternoon leaving work too. All things are
possible. I do a lot of business with several entities that are on internet
and to lose this capability will hurt. We recently consummated a site license
for Osan Air Base with McAfee Associates for vscan. The ability to contact
them via internet and also get updates that we need will be gone if the
internet connection is gone. My 3B2 multi-user systems are all using the most
recent version of C-Kermit thanks to my ability to connect to Columbia U. I
have recently picked up a couple of "bug" fixes for DOS 5 that was provided by
Microsoft and since they are also an internet user, I (we) have access to them
too.
Bottom line: Do we need the internet connection for MILNET? Maybe not but
without it, a lot of people will have to change the way they do business! It
really is more than just a convenience!
Do we have recourse to change this (the decision "may" have already been made)
or are the people who might decide to isolate MILNET really non-users that
have heard rumors and want to protect us?
Personally, I hope we this will all blow over and it will be business as
usual.
Obviously, my opinions! I regularly use FTP to get goodies from Washington U
and Indiana U not to mention subscriptions to various digests that originate
outside of MILNET. I would hate to lose all that too!
Hugh Preston
