Priceless item from cypherpunks (was Voice Escrow System)

[David Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

>From: tcmay@netcom.com (Timothy C. May)
>Message-Id: <9310212124.AA05911@netcom5.netcom.com>
>Subject: Voice Escrow System
>To: cypherpunks@toad.com
>Date: Thu, 21 Oct 93 14:24:32 PDT
>In-Reply-To: <9310212059.AA08477@bsu-cs.bsu.edu>; from "Anonymous" at Oct 21,
>93 3:59 pm
>X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]
>
>
>> Darn! They publicized a great spoof!
>
>No, what CERT did was to illegally reveal a technique developed by law
>enforcement, for the "LEAF" field (Law Enforcement Audio Field):
>
>> The CERT Coordination Center has learned of several vulnerabilities
>> affecting Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Sun) operating systems. Three
>...
>> III. /dev/audio Vulnerability
>>
>>      This vulnerability affects all Sun systems with microphones. This
>>      includes all versions of SunOS 4.1.x including 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3,
>...
>>      A. Description
>>
>>         /dev/audio is set to a default mode of 666. There is also no
>>         indication to the user of the system that the microphone is on.
>>
>>      B. Impact
>>
>>         Any user with access to the system can eavesdrop on conversations
>>         held in the vicinity of the microphone.
>
>This was all built-in to SunOS as part of the "Voice Escrow System."
>RCA developed the special "Nipper" chip for the audio portion, DEC
>handle the file transfer part with the "Pipper" chip, The Navy did
>their part with the "Flipper" chip, and the whole thing was overseen
>oby the Reagan Administration as the "Gipper Program."
>
>Currently the "Data Superhighway" version is being supervised by Al
>Gore and his wife, hence the "Tipper" chip.
>
>--Tim
>
>--
>..........................................................................
>Timothy C. May         | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
>tcmay@netcom.com       | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
>408-688-5409           | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
>W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA  | black markets, collapse of governments.
>Higher Power: 2^756839 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available.
>Note: I put time and money into writing this posting. I hope you enjoy it.
>
>




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Daniel J. Weitzner, Senior Staff Counsel <djw@eff.org>
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