From: Frank Stuart <fstuart@vetmed.auburn.edu>
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Message Hash: 474bd9d2d4997ab1966249f5fac7db1fb62722a907f36a1b6450e6cd4303618a
Message ID: <199608180942.EAA08054@snoopy.vetmed.auburn.edu>
Reply To: N/A
UTC Datetime: 1996-08-18 11:57:18 UTC
Raw Date: Sun, 18 Aug 1996 19:57:18 +0800
From: Frank Stuart <fstuart@vetmed.auburn.edu>
Date: Sun, 18 Aug 1996 19:57:18 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Hackers invade DOJ web site
Message-ID: <199608180942.EAA08054@snoopy.vetmed.auburn.edu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
>CNN online (http://www.cnn.com) is reporting a "breakin" by "hackers"
>to the DOJ web site. They don't elaborate exactly how thy did it.
I certainly don't support the person or people responsible for this and it may
very well end up having an overall negative impact. Since it has happened,
however, I think those in a position to do so should start with the spin
control. Some suggestions:
The fact that even the U.S. Justice Department is unable to adequately
protect it's own site from intruders underscores the need for widely-
available strong encryption.
While this is certainly a major embarrassment for the Justice Department,
at least the mandatory "key escrow" program the Clinton administration is
insisting upon has not yet been implemented; no private citizens' data
appears to have been compromised this time.
It's doubtful that a new law or government bureaucracy would have prevented
this from happening but it's entirely possible that tools such as strong
encryption could have. It's ironic that the U.S. Government is focusing on
the former while fighting use of the latter.
This event could potentially draw a lot of interest from the general public.
Since we're dealing with public perceptions largely created through the main-
stream media, it's important to remember that "sound bites" are more important
than carefully reasoned arguments.
| (Douglas) Hofstadter's Law:
| It always takes longer than you expect, even
Frank Stuart | when you take into account Hofstadter's Law.
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