From: Jeff Weinstein <jsw@netscape.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 95 17:19:21 PST
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Why Netscape employees should not leave
In-Reply-To: <199512040002.AA08103@ideath.goldenbear.com>
Message-ID: <30C64034.6323@netscape.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


Adam Shostack wrote:
>         This leaves us to ask, why GAK is such a big deal at NIST, if
> CKE will get them most of what they want?  First, they haven't
> realized that CKE is most of what they want.  Second, they're worried
> about the extra 10%.  Drug dealers and terrorists not using it.  (This
> points towords an eventual mandate for GAK, even if it starts out
> voluntary.  Many have noted this.)  Third, they've invested so much
> energy in the fight for GAK that they're emotionally tied to the idea,
> and they can't say 'well this would be almost as good.'

  It also allows them to stall on increasing the clearly inadequate
export key size of 40-bit, while they are working on "an alternate
solution".  Given the overwelming negative response from industry
over GAK, it may be nothing other than a delaying action.

	--Jeff

-- 
Jeff Weinstein - Electronic Munitions Specialist
Netscape Communication Corporation
jsw@netscape.com - http://home.netscape.com/people/jsw
Any opinions expressed above are mine.