two notes commenting on casinos on the net

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

From: Denis.Russell () ncl ac uk
Posted-Date: Fri, 17 Mar 1995 05:29:56 -0500


Having recently seen the "insecure Internet" blaimed on a BBC Consumer
Watch program for what was a pretty simple minded con trick (all be it
international), and having just read RISKS, including the stuff about
"bombs" in laser printers and other products, the mind boggles about the
implications of all this. It is of course traditional for heavies to come
round to collect gamboling debts. The obvious extension to cyberspace is to
explode a few local laser printers in order to make people pay up.


Of course, the mafia doesn't actually have to produce such weapons itself,
any more than they have to make guns. I can envisage a cottage industry
where designers of various equipment implant the bombs, and use
sophisticated encryption and one-time passwords to keep fine-graned
control. These software triggers or fuses could then be sold on to the
various customers - the NSA, the Mafia, MI5, MOSSAD. I could imagine an
interesting "arms-dealing" business that used directories like X.500, and
mail watching operations to keep tabs on possible targets. This would be
cross-correlated, via the DNS with internet addresses, and new probing
devices that are remotely controlled versions of ARP would link these with
the MAC address to identify the actual physical machines. At this point a
search would be made for the software fuse for that machine, if any.


Of course, the simple solution is never to gamble in cyber space isn't it?
Well, maybe not. A simple variation is the CyberProtection racket. "Psst!
Want protection from viruses, worms, exploding laser printers?"


From: djw () cdt org (Daniel J. Weitzner)


At  3:46 PM 3/16/95 -0800, Dave Farber wrote:
> Here we go!!!!!!


Yes indeed.




> > WANNA BET ? Company says plan for casino in cyberspace doesn't break the law,
> > but some observers wouldn't put money on it.


Comment for your list if you like:


Transmission of wagering information over telecommunications facilities is
illegal under 18 USC 1083(a).  Furthermore, common carriers who are
notified by federal, state, or local law enforcement agents that their
facilities are being used for these prohibited purposed can be required to
shut the communications facilities of those customers down.  The law says:


"When a common carrier, subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal
Communications Commission, is notified in writing by a Federal, State , or
local law enforcement agnecy, acting within its jurisdiction, that any
facility furnished by it is being used or will be used for the purpose of
transmitting or receiving gambling information in interstate or foreign
commerce in violation of Federal, State or local law, it shall discontinue
or refuse, the leasing, furnishing, or maintaining of such facilities,
after reasonable notice to the subscriber...."


Senator Exon, are you listening?