the matter of secrecy

[Carl Ellison]

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Occasionally, in the crypto debate, someone on the Law Enforcement or 
National Security side will mention how important it has been in our past to 
read the encrypted communications of our national opponents.  World War II 
is frequently cited, with the marvelous penetration of the German and 
Japanese ciphers (Enigma & Purple, especially).

For some reason, neither side points out at that time how vitally important 
it was that secrecy be maintained about those penetrations -- because 
*otherwise the opponent would change to an unbreakable cipher*.

The British are probably in a better position to appreciate this point than 
the Americans.  The secret of the Enigma break was maintained until the 
1970's -- and even then it was leaked by the French and Polish, if I have my 
history right -- while Americans leaked the Purple break shortly after Pearl 
Harbor and extensively in the public hearings right after the war.

Perhaps it should be the British who put this argument point to rest.

The problem here, for those to whom it's not immediately clear, is that any 
GAK mechanism violates this #1 security rule up front.

 - Carl

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|Carl M. Ellison  cme@cybercash.com   http://www.clark.net/pub/cme |
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