From: Sergey Goldgaber <sergey@delbruck.pharm.sunysb.edu>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 01:15:15 PST
To: Matt Thomlinson <phantom@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: STEALTH OCEANS
In-Reply-To: <Pine.3.89.9402240056.A28435-0100000@stein3.u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9402240410.B3654-0100000@delbruck.pharm.sunysb.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain




On Thu, 24 Feb 1994, Matt Thomlinson wrote:

> 
> Sergey Goldgaber <sergey@delbruck.pharm.sunysb.edu> writes:
> 
> >> might work, except for the fact that fragmentation _does_ go on, and when 
> >> you were to write files to the drive (heck, I do every time I start up 
> >> windows and write a huge temp swapfile) you're going to be playing 
> >> roulette with your data. 
> 
> >This problem is solved by simply using a utility that writes directly to the
> >disk (exactly in the specified sectors, in the specified order), instead 
> >of letting DOS fragment your disk.
> 
> 
> I've been talking to Sergey behind the scenes, and I think I understand 
> what our miscommunication was: he is proposing this type of technique 
> ONLY for removable-type media, e.g. floppies. 


I am proposing this as a practical solution that can be implemented 
effectively mainly on floppies.  Hard-drives might have to be dedicated 
to stegonagraphy (As Matt points out below).

> To store this type of data on your harddrive would be to dedicate your
> harddrive to stego. This was my argument all along; what we failed to
> connect on was the fact that only floppies are involved. With floppies,
> every write *can* be controlled and the data would be relatively safe (and
> obscure, for that matter). 
> 

So it seems.  However, I am wary of the possibility that there are 
drawbacks to the scheme that I haven't even considered yet.  I'm hoping 
that other astute readers such as yourself may be able to point them out; 
as, practical stegonagraphy may become a necessity in the near future.

> 
> This correction is being posted to the list because his original post 
> said nothing about removable media.
> 

My original post only outlined the basic premises.  I had not, at that 
point, realized that floppy use would be a virtual necessity.

> 
> mt
> 
> Matt Thomlinson                               Say no to the Wiretap Chip!
> University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
> Internet: phantom@u.washington.edu      	    phone: (206) 548-9804
> PGP 2.2  key available via email or finger phantom@hardy.u.washington.edu
> 
> 

Thanks for your insights and neverfailing tenacity, Matt.


Sergey