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by zedshaw 5407 days ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSAKEY

That's just from a quick google. Back in the day there were stories of "A Visit from Mr. Brown" or something like that. The NSA or "some agency" would go around to anyone making crypto or operating systems and ask to be given backdoors in exchange for deals on export restrictions. Periodically a government agency in another country would find them and we'd be embarrassed. These days it's not as common since crypto exports aren't restricted (much) so the threat of, "If you don't add a backdoor we'll label your software a weapon and you can't sell it to the world." doesn't work.

Then again, could all just be a huge conspiracy.....mwhahahaah.
1 comments
codexon 5407 days ago
Bruce Schneier explains why that is not a back door.

http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-9909.html#NSAKeyinMicros...

So other than this, are there any other NSA "backdoors in everything from crypto systems, operating systems, to even backdoors themselves"?

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zedshaw 5407 days ago
Oh, the great Bruce Schneier says so, so therefore it must be. How do you know he's not a shill for Microsoft and the NSA? Hmm?

The great thing about backdoors is, when they get discovered they have perfect plausible deniability. "Oh that key named NSAKEY isn't for the NSA it's for...uh...this other agency. Yeah that's it! It's not even a key. Right Bruce? Right?!"

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william42 5407 days ago
Are you going to deny any contrary evidence as being a shill for the people you're accusing? Down that path lies madness and conspiracies, Zed.
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code_duck 5407 days ago
Oh, so the great Zed Shaw says Schneier saying it's so doesn't make it so.

The great thing about people accusing others of subterfuge is how it may never reach a suitable end.

How do we know Zed Shaw is not a shill for those opposing those for whom Bruce Schneier is a shill?? What to do!

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Create 5407 days ago
They are an eco-friendly CO_2 emission reducing measure to reduce workload, in a desperate attempt to comply with KIOTO. They needed it to conform to the Energy Star certification scheme from the DoE.

http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/19.52.html#subj1

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