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From: tnixon@hayes.uucp
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: What do you think about security functions in modems?
Message-ID: <3888.27f10f22@hayes.uucp>
Date: 27 Mar 91 21:31:14 GMT
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA
Lines: 27

I am studying the issue of increasing security and privacy of modem
communications at the physical layer, and would appreciate hearing
any comments or ideas you might have.  I'm not looking for new
_inventions_ (please DON'T send me anything you consider to be
confidential or trade secret), but your opinions on the usefulness,
effectiveness, and value of commonly-used techniques such as
call-back security (within a modem; I, for example, think it is more
effective when controlled by an external device so that incoming and
outgoing calls are on different lines), encryption (built into the
modem, like data compression), modem-based passwords (with the
exchange of information handled by the error control protocol,
possibly using an encrypted challenge/response system), etc.  I'm
also interested in your opinion on whether new techniques such
as modem-based decoding of caller-ID information would be useful.
 
There are currently no US or CCITT standards regarding these
functions (in modems), and your input will help me to decide whether
or not to initiate such activities.  Thanks very much in advance for
your comments either email or posted to the group.
 
        -- Toby

-- 
Toby Nixon, Principal Engineer    | Voice   +1-404-840-9200  Telex 151243420
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. | Fax     +1-404-447-0178  CIS   70271,404
P.O. Box 105203                   | UUCP uunet!hayes!tnixon  AT&T    !tnixon
Atlanta, Georgia  30348  USA      | Internet       hayes!tnixon@uunet.uu.net