Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!snorkelwacker!bloom-beacon!eru!luth!d89-bfr From: d89-bfr@sm.luth.se (d89-bfr) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: PKZIP version 1.10 and data encryption Message-ID: <392@sigma3.sm.luth.se> Date: 29 Mar 90 09:11:08 GMT References: <3726.261001b4@vax5.cit.cornell.edu> <1990Mar28.144418.832@ccu.umanitoba.ca> <5544@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> Reply-To: Distribution: comp Organization: University of Lulea, Sweden Lines: 46 UUCP-Path: {uunet,mcvax}!sunic.se!sigma3.sm.luth.se!d89-bfr In article sigma@pawl.rpi.edu (Kevin J Martin) writes: >I think what the government has in mind is not too bad, but the law is, I'll >agree, hopelessly unenforceable. The official DES was developed by some or >another branch of the Government (DoD?), and they supposedly use it in some >form or another for classified material and whatnot. It may also be illegal >to publish detailed information on the algorithm - I'm not sure. If they >really wanted to develop an encryption standard that would have any chance >of remaining domestic, though, it was a very bad idea to release it into the >US PDomain! Connectivity is too great for that, these days. Technology >transfer can be instantaneous. > So the idea isn't too bad, is it? I think it is. Just look at the situation. The law says (If I'm not misinformed, which I might of course be), that this kind of software is available for every US or Canadian citizen living in US or Canada, but not to anyone else. Is that right? How can anyone imagine that such a law will prevent anything. And prevent what? What is the purpose of this law? To make sure that other nations can't encrypt data? In such case I think it'd be a good idea for someone to visit a psyciatrist. Or is it to make sure that other nations can't decrypt data of importance for America? Stupid too. Data that is so important shouldn't be encrypted by systems available as shareware. Believe me when I say that there are people IN America who can cause lots of damage too. And for them it's allowed. >By the way, does anyone know why many video games these days have a briefly >displayed screen which says "Illegal to export outside US and Canada"? What >sort of technology could a video game (for which most of the electronics >are built in Taiwan or Japan, anyway) contain that would compromise natinal >(national) security? The more I think about it, the funnier it seems. I've heard reasons for this, but it's so silly I certainly hope it's not true. Most of those video games are WAR-games. So. Someone thought that for example "Enemy nation fighter pilots" may increase their skill in combat with help of these games. Or learn how US aircrafts behave. Well. As I said. I certainly hope this isn't true. > >Kevin Martin >sigma@pawl.rpi.edu _ /Bjorn