Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: floyd@ims.alaska.edu (Floyd Davidson) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: What are Secure Lines? Message-ID: <15834@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 6 Jan 91 09:04:49 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: University of Alaska, Institute of Marine Science Lines: 58 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 12, Message 1 of 11 In article <15758@accuvax.nwu.edu> bill@eedsp.gatech.edu writes: >Joe Broniszewski queries: >> In the book, Cliff mentioned what he called a *secure >> line*. When ever he called a government agency that meant business >> (ie. FBI, NSA, CIA) they would call him back on one of these secure >> lines. My questions: >> 1. Technically speaking what is the difference between a secure line >> and a non-secure line? >There is no such beast. When the "spooks" want to talk turkey, they >use special telephones, not special telephone lines. End-to-end encryption makes a "secure" line. Such beasties are available to the military and other defense agencies. The book gave no indication that such was available to Cliff or that he was using one. He may or may not have been. >> 2. Are calls routed differently? >They may be routed on FTS, which is essential just a bulk WATS-type >system that all the Federal agencies have access to. FTS can be used >to call POTS or other FTS phones. If it is a military agency, they >may use a network called AUTOVON. They could also be routed in the >usual way that we civilians have our calls routed. Basically all >they'd need is an RJ-11 connection, if that. Secure cellular phones >are also used by the feds - remember Bush talking on a cellular from >his golf cart up in Maine? My bet is that one is definitely encrypted. >Answer to 4: >FTS is a non-secure, general use, long-distance network which the >federal government uses for the bulk of its long distance telephone >and data traffic. It is likely that the spooks have encryption equipment on T streams between them and whatever toll switch they connect to. From that point on it definitely is not a "secure" line, but... Any FTS-2000 satellite link is encrypted. Most autovon satellite links are encrypted. Chances are fairly good that a normal connection that you make calling them could be monitored, chances are fairly poor that a call they make to you could be monitored. At least by accident. The lines are not "secure", just a bit safer. They keep the amatuer spooks out of it, but not the pro's. Floyd L. Davidson floyd@ims.alaska.edu Salcha, AK 99714 paycheck connection to Alascom, Inc. When I speak for them, one of us will be *out* of business in a hurry.