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.



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