BBC Online 24/3/2000: "MI5 laptop snatched"

[Owen Lewis]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Donald Ramsbottom" <donald@ramsbottom.co.uk>
To: <ukcrypto@maillist.ox.ac.uk>
Sent: 24 March 2000 16:15
Subject: Re: BBC Online 24/3/2000: "MI5 laptop snatched"


>
> >> At 09:38 24/03/00 -0000, you wrote:
> >> >Lucky the chap wasn't enroute to Cheltenham with GTAC's main key
archive,
> >> >eh? Where was it GTAC is going to be physically located Simon ?
> >> >
> >>
> >> My thoughts entirely, not very reassuring is it,
> >
> >And I thought it was the general consensus here that good encryption is
so
> >secure that you can allow anyone to have access to your secrets, oh, for
50
> >years or so :-) You really can't have it both ways, you know.
> >
>
> As I said in my post it was not the content which was worrying, but the
fact
> that an "MI5" operative (of whatever level)was apparently duped by
> streetwise kids. That was what concerned me. I have little doubt that the
> contents will be secure provided that all protocols have been followed,
but
> given the reassuring noises made by the HO at SFS2000 about GTAC and its
> security, the timing of this was lousy.

People make mistakes; always have and always will. In developing any secure
procedures worth the name, one will allow for one or even more serious
errors or omissions to occur without a loss of security. This does not
excuse, laziness, stupidity or wilful disobedience - all of which the flesh
is heir to - but it can ensure that the consequences of them are borne
solely by their perpetrators.

Incidentally, had the courier been a German or a Frenchman, he would have
been armed and would have dropped the little toe-rag without even blinking.

Owen

>
> Donald Ramsbottom LL.B, BA (Hons).
>
> RAMSBOTTOM & Co. Solicitors
>
> Internet Law & Global Cryptology Law Specialists
>
>