wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA (Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI) (09/28/87)
Note: I had sent this to the "buit1.bu.edu" address last week and it hasn't been delivered there as of this writing, so I'm re-sending it to the new MIT-XX address. If the older version shows up, please delete the duplicate. Thanks! Thought the Telecom readership might like to see this -- From the 21 Sept. '87 issue (Vol. 1 No. 26) of Federal Computer Week, pg 1: MOTOROLA UNVEILS SECURE CELLULAR PHONES FOR NSA by Bob Brewin Motorola Inc. displayed a mobile cellular telephone outfitted with the National Security Agency's STU III encryption system at last week's Air Force Association convention in Washington, D.C. The new product offers "the highest level of security commercially available today," the company said. But Motorola would not say much about the product, referring all questions on price or the size of any ordrs to "our customer." That customer, the National Security Agency, declined to answer any verbal questions, suggesting instead that they be presented in writing. However, Motorola's thin promotional material and the mock-up on display at the convention did offer some insights into the company's DYNA SEC Secure Voice/Data Cellular Terminal STU III. The cellular heart of the system is Motorola's standard Mini TAC 600XL system, which consists of a transceiver, usually mounted in the trunk, a handset and hang-up cup. Attached to this standard commercial product is the Secure Cellular Terminal -- essentially a black box containing NSA-designed ad approved encryption chips -- which interfaces with the Secure Message Center. The terminal also contains an RS232 port, which allows the attachment of computers and other data devices. The message center has a digital readout displaying call progress and terminal authentication messages. It also contains a series of push buttons to control the clear, secure voice, and secure data modes. Finally, the SMC holds a crypto-ignition key, which lets the user activate the secure operating modes of the terminal. Motorola said the STU III cellular system transmissions "are totally unintelligible to an unauthorized listener" if the signal is monitored over the cellular or the public-switched telephone network. [Rather than quote the rest of the article, I'll summarize. James Bamford, author of THE PUZZLE PALACE, said that the encryption is virtually impenetrable. It also provides much better decrypted voice quality than earlier systems. It will be installed in the cars of high-level government officials first, possibly spreading down to CIA, FBI or DEA field users depending on price. This is an outgrowth of several years' interest in cellular encryption by the NSA. No info on price or possibility of this getting into the hands of non-government users.] Personal note: I can understand the secrecy regarding technical details, but can't see why the price would be restricted information. Regards, Will Martin
henry@utzoo.UUCP (10/01/87)
> ... I can understand the secrecy regarding technical details, > but can't see why the price would be restricted information. To interfere with the inevitable Congressional investigation of why it cost so much, of course! Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology {allegra,ihnp4,decvax,pyramid}!utzoo!henry