klinner@sun.uucp (Kent Klinner) (11/04/86)
Has anyone out there ever used on a Teneron encryption modem
made by Raven Communications (Arizona)?
I spoke with Joe Hawraneck today about this little device.
It supports callback, DES encryption, and a proprietary
encryption scheme. It's also relatively cheap: $795. I have an
internal alarm that goes off when I hear proprietary, so I would
appreciate any information that anyone out there has.
I couldn't resist the temptation to ask him about their
overseas business. Their box has a microprocessor and Motorola's
DES chip, so they applied for an export license. In order to
get it they had to submit a description of their proprietary
algorithm to the NSA. The NSA was very frank about their
intentions: they don't want anyone, here or abroad, using
any kind of encryption that can't be broken by the NSA.
Here's the kicker. They got an export license that would allow
them to sell the box only to divisions of US companies or to
banks. They were forbidden to sell to foreign-owned companies
except for banks. Of course, the enforcement of this kind of
restriction has got to be difficult, so I suspect that there are
piles of forms that have to filled out before any shipment is ever
made. Isn't it encouraging to know that our tax dollars are being
spent so wisely?
I don't want to rekindle the debate about export licences and
the proper role of government. I just thought you might find this
interesting.
Now back to the subject of my posting ...
Apparently, Raven has sold these boxes to foreign branches of US
companies. I'm looking for case histories, anecdotes, warnings, etc.
Kent Klinner
sun!drseuss!klinner
Sun Microsystems
P.S. terrorism, bombs, kidnapping, encryption, NSA, CIA, cocaine,
heroin, assassination, child abuse, pornography, peace