Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!pacbell!ames!oliveb!pyramid!prls!philabs!ttidca!hollombe
From: hollombe@ttidca.TTI.COM (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: ? Can I Use the DES from UNIX passwd Source code?
Message-ID: <3603@ttidca.TTI.COM>
Date: 20 Dec 88 02:23:44 GMT
References: <3600017@hpiacla.HP.COM> <8557@alice.UUCP>
Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcb.tti.com (The Polymath)
Organization: The Cat Factory
Lines: 22

In article <8557@alice.UUCP> ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) writes:
}In article <3600017@hpiacla.HP.COM>, jimb@hpiacla.HP.COM (Jim Brandt) writes:
}> The passwd uses a DES algorithm, and I believe the algorithm is public
}> domain, but if I used the algorithm from the source code of passwd in 
}> another product, do I need to worry about copyright?
}
}Yes you do.

Not only that, the passwd encryption doesn't use a pure DES algorithm
(it's "perturbed" with a "salt" variable).  Furthermore, it's deliberately
coded in an inefficient manner to discourage is use in cracking password
files.  Thus, you probably don't want to use it anyway if you want
Real(tm) DES encryption.

Your best bet is to get the specs for the DES algorithm and code your own
routine.

-- 
The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, hollombe@ttidca.tti.com)  Illegitimati Nil
Citicorp(+)TTI                                                 Carborundum
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (213) 452-9191, x2483
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