Re: Cryptome Hacked!

[Morgan Marquis-Boire <morganm () datacom co nz>]

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Why would John Young tamper with the software available on his site?
Do you not think that if this were discovered it would reduce what ever
credibility he and his site may have in the crypto community?
Given the nature of the website and its pro-crypto stance, it makes
little sense to me the idea that some one would deliberately weaken the 
tools provided on the site.
In what way do you feel the tools may have been tampered with?

On Thu, 27 Feb 2003 12:58:35 +1300
"Steve Wray" <steve.wray () paradise net nz> wrote:

> Sticking my neck out, I'd say that the *best* method would be;
>
> 0. Be familiar with your OS and with the programming
> language in which the software is written and 
>
> 1. Go over the source code line by line inspecting the
> whole thing.
>
> 2. If you don't have access to the source don't trust it,
> no way no how.
>
> Ok that was the dead serious part.
>
> 3. If people you know and trust have access to the source that
> may mitigate failure at (2), but only marginally. 
> You need a face-to-face relationship with the parties you trust 
> and who have access to the source; email or other internet 
> relationships do not count.
>
> (Ok so certain types of psychopath can reliably lie and fool even
> the clinically paranoid. Yup, even people who are psychotically
> paranoid can be lured into disclosing their bank details by
> a 'creative psychopath'.)
>
> So if you want to be able to trust it only personal inspection
> of the source will do.
>
> You *did* say "high level of trust"
>
> Personally I don't feel a need for this level of paranoia. Phew
> I can live my life and not feel concerned about the conversations
> they have about me on the TV. The ones that noone else can hear.
> Mwahahahaaaaaa
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: full-disclosure-admin () lists netsys com
> [mailto:full-disclosure-admin () lists netsys com] On Behalf Of Sung J.
> Choe
> Sent: Thursday, 27 February 2003 12:10 p.m.
> To: 'full-disclosure () lists netsys com'
> Subject: [Full-disclosure] Cryptome Hacked!
>
>
> Cryptome.org, a site for privacy enthusiasts and leftists alike, was
> apparently hacked today.  Their server is up but "all files were
> deleted".  Besides the usual anti-American/anti-government vitriol that
> is usually found at Cryptome.org, they also distribute crypto software.
> This brings up the following question: What is the best method for
> ensuring the integrity of software which require a high level of trust?
> I am almost sure that any crypto software distributed by such extremists
> as John Young (operator of cryptome.org) has been tampered with in some
> way.  Does anybody else share this opinion? 
>
>
> .--------------------------------------------------. 
> | Sung J. Choe <schoe[at]oicinc.com>, TICSA        | 
> | Systems Administrator, Facility Security Officer | 
> .--------------------------------------------------.----. 
>                     | Oceanic Imaging Consultants, Inc. | 
>                     | Phone #: (808) 539-3634 x3634     | 
>                     .-----------------------------------. 
> 568D CAD6 53A0 92E6 4A2A  4E87 3BA0 5F90 37BB 8EE7 
>  
>
> _______________________________________________
> Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
> Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html


- -- 
Morgan Marquis-Boire
Unix Systems Consultant
Datacom Systems Ltd.
(025) 954-931
- --
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Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
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