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>
Electronic Frontier Foundation
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