Re: [Thinkpad] Thinkpad Hard Drive Passwords

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Markowitz" <scosgt@worldnet.att.net>
To: "Jonathan Graham" <grahamj@virtue.cx>
Cc: <thinkpad@stderr.org>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Thinkpad] Thinkpad Hard Drive Passwords

> You see, you seem to have completely missed the point.
> A professional who is after the specific data will simply get around the
> best security by hacking/buying the key from the company that writes the
> encryption software.

You're thinking too much like an enigma machine Bruce. Antiquated.

Enigma worked by having the mechanism unknown. Modern cryptosystems
attempt to keep the mechanism known and the security in the key and the key
in the hands of the sender/recipient. There is no third party to get the
key from.

So in the case of a computerized OTP your 'pro' has to work on regularities
in the pseudo-random number generation. If it was simply a question of
money I might be concerned since the number of people with a lot of money is
significantly larger than those with experience breaking OTP cryptograpic
cyphers.

_______________________________________________
Thinkpad mailing list
Thinkpad@stderr.org
http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
Received on Mon Feb 2 20:42:20 2004