The new watchdogs of digital commerce

Article Abstract:

Ian Goldberg, David Wagner and Paul Gauthier under the direction of UC Berkeley Prof. Eric Brewer reveal Internet flaws that make the network unsuitable for electronic commerce, and they do it in a spirit of cooperation, not contention. The trio represents a new movement in the hacker community, which traditionally scrutinizes software and hardware to detect faults then releases the information. A typical example is the work the trio performed on the Satan program that identifies possible points of break-in on a corporate LAN, which was released across the Internet in a move many corporations found hostile. The Berkeley trio posts findings about security flaws to Internet bulletin boards. They are motivated by a desire to inform the public, rather than to challenge the establishment. This new spirit may be an acknowledgement that the Internet will become a commercial medium, despite the efforts of purists to preserve it as the academic tool.

Telegraph & other communications, Specialized Telecom Services, Wired Telecommunications Carriers, Methods, Safety and security measures, Internet, Internet services, Internet security, Study and teaching, Electronic commerce, E-commerce, Computer hackers, Hacker, University of California, Berkeley

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U.S. to urge a new policy on software: attempt at compromise on scrambling of data

Article Abstract:

The Clinton Administration announces it will propose a new data-encryption strategy. Currently, all hardware sold to the government must include a Clipper chip. The public has never been able to examine the chip, which observers believes allows the government unauthorized access. The government also insists that its agencies be given keys to encrypted software, so that a court order will release the keys to law enforcement. Government regulations of exported software require that the code be based on 40-bit information. Software makers want to be able to export stronger code, because the weaker code is hurting foreign sales. The government is considering allowing exportation of software with 64-bit encryption, provided that law enforcement is given the key. For domestic software, the government still wants encryption keys, but may allow a non-government company hold them.

Prepackaged software, Software Publishers, Data Encryption Software Pkgs, Computer peripheral equipment, not elsewhere classified, Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing, Computer Auxiliary Eqp NEC, Usage, Computer software industry, Software industry, Laws, regulations and rules, Encryption, Data encryption, Encryption software, Computer peripherals, Data security devices, Government Regulation, Data security device, National Security Agency Clipper (Data security device), Government Activity

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