IP: RE: FBI gets cash to spend on anti-encryption research

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>From: Chris Savage <chris.savage@crblaw.com>
>Subject: RE: FBI gets cash to spend on anti-encryption research
>
> >Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 15:37:43 -0400
> >From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
> >To: cryptography@wasabisystems.com
> >
> >Anyone want to speculate on what the quote in the first bullet
> >point means?
>
><snip>
>
> >* The FBI will receive an extra $7 million for technology to
> >thwart encryption. The appropriations committee intends for it to be
> >spent on: "(1) analysis/exploitation of systems to allow
> >access to data pre-encryption, (2) recognition/decryption of data hidden
> >in plain sight, and (3) decryption of encrypted data."
>
>Sure.
>
>(1) is putting in keyboard bugs and screen scrapers on target computers, 
>so that the Bureau can learn what the subject types and sees on his screen 
>before encrypting (keyboard) or after decrypting (screen) by the subject.
>
>(2) is beating steganography.
>
>(3) is obvious, although it bespeaks a certain lack of technology 
>transfer, shall we say, between Ft. Meade & Pennsylvania Avenue.
>
>Chris S.



For archives see: http://www.interesting-people.org/