Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!ernie.berkeley.edu!tedrick
From: tedrick@ernie.berkeley.edu (Tom Tedrick)
Newsgroups: net.crypt
Subject: Re: WWII Cryptography --> WWIII
Message-ID: <12380@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Fri, 14-Mar-86 14:58:29 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.12380
Posted: Fri Mar 14 14:58:29 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 21:24:15 EST
References: <2302@utcsri.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: tedrick@ernie.berkeley.edu.UUCP (Tom Tedrick)
Distribution: net
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 49

In article <2302@utcsri.UUCP> hofbauer@utcsri.UUCP writes:
>This discussion has been fascinating so far. I don't even
>mind the mudslinging over accuracy of source material.
>Anyhow, I would like to enlarge the discussion to include
>the future. Suppose, heaven forbid, WWIII should break out.
>Speculate on the role of cryptography in such a conflict.

I'm so glad you asked :-)

My view is that information is in some sense the most vital
factor in war. Without good information force is much more
difficult to use effectively. In order to cooperate for
maximum effectiveness units on the same side need to exchange
information. Intercepted enemy communications can make 
a fundamental difference in strategy and tactics. And so on ...

This opens up a whole new area for discussion, so I won't
say everything I have to say now, but in time it will come
out, most likely.

>Would each side be able to keep its most secret secrets secret
>by using "unbreakable" codes?

One time pads are secure in the standard models.

Other encryption systems based on apparently intractable
mathematical problems like factoring large integers may
also provide a measure of security.

>How would the Yanks try to
>break such codes? What if the Russki's knocked out Fort Mead?
>Could they? Can/would the allies be trusted? Would it be over
>so fast that it wouldn't even matter? Start slinging...

Some issues to be considered are: Trojan horse programs (ie
sneaking these little devils into enemy computers), simulating
enemy cryptosystems (ie give misleading information to the
enemy, which could be decisive should the war last only a few
minutes), maintaining the peace through exchange of information
which makes it impossible for either side to mount a surprise
attack, etc.

If, God forbid, there is another superpower war, it could
be the first war decided almost exclusively by information
and related areas. For example coordinating Star Wars type
weapons would be largely handled by computers ...

Again, you have opened up a very wide field for discussion,
so only the surface can be scratched in this posting ...