Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!umigw!ibiza!dl From: dl@ibiza.cs.miami.edu (David Lesher) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: encrypted phones Message-ID: <732@umigw.MIAMI.EDU> Date: 29 Aug 89 22:59:29 GMT References: <721@umigw.MIAMI.EDU> <33@flash.UUCP> Sender: news@umigw.MIAMI.EDU Reply-To: wb8foz@Mthvax.Miami.Edu (David Lesher) Organization: NRK Clinic for Habitual NetNews abusers. Lines: 43 > Article <33@flash.UUCP> From: bill@flash.UUCP (William Swan) # # What is the STU-III encryption scheme? # # Why is it a {gem, dog}? Keeping this to my opinions and what has already been in the Wash. Post: I have no idea what the scheme is. It involves digitizing the audio, according to some key that changes automatically. You get a 'key' to start it. It is really a rom. First you call in somebody who activates the phone via a master 'key'. Then when you call J. Blow, the LCD identifies {s/h/it} and the lower of both of your key clearance levels. Then they squawk some more, and they agree on a code-of-the-minute. (About once a month, it forgets, and the guy with the master key comes back again and casts a new spell on it.) Then you talk. Sometimes you can even understand the other party. If not, you hang up and write a cable instead. It must BE IN UPPER CASE ONLY BECAUSE THE USG CABLE SYSTEM STILL HAS (i kid you not) SOME BAUDOT TERMINALS. DONT USE ANY SPECIAL CHARACTERS SUCH AS !@#$%^&*() OR YOU WILL GET IT BACK, UNSENT. The STU III replaces the KY-71, aka STU II (don't even think about its predecesser, the '5') which was 4 wire or alternately, half-duplex. It dialed two pstn truncks at once! I liked them-you could even UNDERSTAND people;-} The real driving force of the STU III program was to put those contractor conversations that are presently 'in the clear' under SOME form of encryption. I guess, later on, after the costs went thru the Van Allen belt, that those folks we can't talk about decided they were a good idea for the -71 folks, too. That way, RCA, ATT, and Galvin Manufacturing could sell more of them. Enough of this. Everything I say is a lie, anyhow, to confuse you, and the {other} Bad Guys. Flash! Murphy gets look and feel copyright on sendmail.cf {gatech!} wb8foz@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (305) 255-RTFM