34AEJ7D@CMUVM.BITNET (Bill Gorman) (06/14/91)
Index Number: 16036 For any of us who may be concerned with computer and E-mail privacy, the attached information may prove of interest. Sez me, W. K. (Bill) Gorman -------------------------------------CUT HERE--------------------------- |Date: Fri, 7 Jun 91 11:39:59 MDT |from: Philip Zimmermann <prz@sage.cgd.ucar.EDU> |subject: Public Key Crypto Freeware Protects E-MAIL | |At a time when the Government seems bent on keeping the public from having |access to electronic privacy technology, there is now a freeware MSDOS software |application that protects E-mail and files via public key cryptography. Philip |Zimmermann's program, PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), provides privacy and |authentication without the hassles of managing keys associated with |conventional cryptographic software. No secure channels are needed for users |to exchange keys. PGP combines the convenience of RSA public key cryptography |with the speed of conventional cryptography, fast message digests for |signatures, data compression, and sophisticated key management. And PGP |performs the RSA functions relatively fast. PGP is RSA public key cryptography |for the masses. | |PGP version 1.0 is now available through electronic distribution for MSDOS in |the compressed archive file PGP10.ZIP, containing the executable binary and |user documentation. This release file can be found on BIX, Compuserve, |FidoNet, in comp.binaries.ibm.pc and alt.sources on Internet, the WELL, |PeaceNet, EcoNet, EXEC-PC, and many other BBS systems. A separate file, |PGP10SRC.ZIP, contains all the C source code and can be found on most of these |same networks. |[Added postscript:] The manual directs end users to contact PKP for patent | licensing, and gives their phone number, and warns of their patent. I also |warn of probable export restrictions. Source code is under FSF Copyleft, which |makes it hard to make any commercial proprietary derivations from the source |code. I'd like to make this additional statement: | |PGP is an educational effort. I want people to know how they can protect the |privacy of their personal electronic communications and confidential |information. PGP provides an educational example; an independently-developed |working prototype that illustrates how it can be done. I want to guarantee |that the detailed knowledge of, and access to, this technology cannot be |suppressed by Government. Once people know that real security and privacy is |possible, I hope that they will make lawful use of it in accordance with patent |law. | |The inventors and patent holders of the RSA cryptosystem deserve renumeration |for their brilliant contribution to cryptography. I strongly urge end users of |PGP to obtain licensing of the RSA algorithm from Public Key Partners. The |"PGP User's Guide" provides more detailed patent information and how to contact |PKP.