[118008] in Cypherpunks
Re: more re Encryption Technology Limits Eased
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (lcs Mixmaster Remailer)
Fri Sep 17 14:29:57 1999
Date: 17 Sep 1999 18:00:02 -0000
Message-ID: <19990917180002.815.qmail@nym.alias.net>
To: cypherpunks@cyberpass.net
From: lcs Mixmaster Remailer <mix@anon.lcs.mit.edu>
Reply-To: lcs Mixmaster Remailer <mix@anon.lcs.mit.edu>
> Read your story, and it's pretty good, but I also read your transcript
> last night. So, I don't understand what limits have been eased?
>
> [Snip Reno/Hamre trying to save face]
>
> For example, I have a set of source code for Photuris in KA9Q. It is an
> authentication only version that I created during the window of
> opportunity that John Gilmore brought us for DNS Sec. But, the window
> closed when the Feds reversed themselves. It makes more than 64 bit keys.
> It supports 1024 bit D-H, and would be easily modified to larger sizes.
>
> Walnut Creek won't put it on the MSDOS CDROM. They don't want to apply
> for review, track sales, or any of the other things required. I've
> been encouraged to put it on the net, but the sites that I might use
> won't allow it. They cannot afford the Fed confiscation risk.
> [Snip]
> So, this is not theoretical for me. What exactly has eased? How does
> this "different approach" make life easier for me?
It may not, if you're not selling mass-market software.
This bill doesn't solve all the problems in the world. It won't feed the
hungry, eliminate the IRS, or make sure the Mets win another World Series.
And it doesn't do much for freeware authors, either.
That doesn't mean it's bad or should be opposed. It is a step in the
right direction; it makes strong crypto more available, and makes it
easier for crypto companies to build strong crypto into their products.
How many companies were willing to jump through hoops like PGP did with
their book-printing and scanning process? This significantly lowers
the barriers for commercial crypto.
Yes, barriers still exist, and yes, commercial crypto is only one
part of the equation. But that doesn't change the fact that this is a
step forward. We should accept and embrace this relaxation and push
for equal treatment for freeware, on the basis of fairness. That is
the logical next step, and it will be much easier to achieve now that
we've got the precedent in place for commercial software.
