From: Germano Caronni <caronni@tik.ee.ethz.ch>
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 1996 02:46:13 +0800
To: dthorn@gte.net (Dale Thorn)
Subject: Re: Encryption
In-Reply-To: <3226ADC6.6C87@gte.net>
Message-ID: <199608301540.RAA06793@kom30.ethz.ch>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text


Dale Thorn wrote:
> It appears to me that PGP encryption et al is really 1940's technology, 
> albeit fancied up by 1990's computers.  Why use keys and cyphers when 
> all you should have to do is maximize the randomization of bits in a 
[...]
> Algorithm: Select bit-groups of random length from the file until the file is
>            completely processed.  Shuffle the bits in each group randomly and
>            save each group back to the file. Repeat if needed using different
>            key-strings for each successive encryption, for increased security.


Very nice. There are just two little issues:

a) How do you generate the random bytes?
b) How do you transmit them to the other side, without having a secure channel?

In 1940, you needed airplanes to solve b), now you can use PGP (or any 
other combined strong asymmetric & symmetric crypto) to solve b) and
partially even a), saving you a lot of fuel ;-)

BTW: In my opinion, your 'randomization of bits' corresponds to cyphers, 
and the way you randomize them corresponds to 'keys'.


My 0.2 cents worth.

Gec