From: doug@netcom.com (Doug Merritt)
Date: Fri, 5 Nov 93 08:57:45 PST
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: trusting software
Message-ID: <199311051657.IAA20001@mail.netcom.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


ogr@wyvern.wyvern.com (Jason Plank) said:
>	Phil Zimmerman solved this problem by supplying the source code for
>his product.  You can see for yourself that there are no backdoors.

This helps, but is imperfect. How many people will read their particular
copy in sufficient detail to ascertain that there aren't any obvious
backdoors added by e.g. a sneaky archive site maintainer, or some sneaky
cracker who found a way to modify the archived copy?

Furthermore, even close reading won't absolutely *guarantee* the lack of
backdoors in all cases, even if the reader is an expert on relevant
subjects.

We'll all continue to use software despite lack of absolute assurances,
but it's worth keeping in mind what the situation is.
	Doug