The Hacker's Encyclopedia 1998

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========================================================================= ________________ _______________ _______________ /_______________/\ /_______________\ /\______________\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ ||||||||||||||||| / //////////////// \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/ ||||||||||||||||| / //////////////// \\\\\\_______/\ ||||||_______\ / //////_____\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ |||||||||||||| / ///////////// \\\\\\\\\\\\\/____ |||||||||||||| / ///////////// \\\\\___________/\ ||||| / //// \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ ||||| / //// \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/ ||||| \//// ========================================================================= EFFector Online Volume 6 No. 5 11/15/1993 editors@eff.org A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation ISSN 1062-9424 In This Issue: New EFF Open Platform Statement Available Online EFF Welcomes Mary Beth Arnett, Staff Counsel Please Help Us Get EFF's BBS Up and Running! Statistics Needed for Analysis of Lost Crypto Sales Retrieving the National Information Infrastructure Documents NSF Digital Library Open Meeting - Dec. 6 --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: New EFF Open Platform Statement Available Online The recent spate of telecommunications mergers -- Bell Atlantic/TCI, US West/Time-Warner, AT&T/McCaw, plus numerous others in the works -- raise the stakes for information policy makers and those of us who are concerned about the development of an open, accessible information infrastructure. EFF has just released a major new statement on our Open Platform Campaign, which explains EFF's approach to infrastructure policy. Our big concern is to encourage Congress and the Administration to do the right thing and set out a new, positive communications policy that is ready for the information age. We believe that this policy must achieve the following goals: * Diversity of Information Sources: Promote a fully interactive infrastructure in which the First Amendment flourishes, allowing the greatest possible diversity of view points; * Universal Service: Ensure a minimum level of affordable information and communication service for all Americans; * Free Speech and Common Carriage: Guarantee infrastructure access regardless of the content of the message that the user is sending; * Privacy: Protect the security and privacy of all communications carried over the infrastructure, and safeguard the Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights of all who use the information infrastructure; * Development of Public Interest Applications and Services: Ensure that public interest applications and services which are not produced by the commercial market are widely available and affordable. Our policy proposal, available by anonymous ftp on ftp.eff.org in /pub/Eff/papers/op2.0, contains a discussion of these principles and concrete legislative recommendations on how to accomplish many of these goals. Here are a few selected paragraphs from the main paper to give a flavor of our positions, but we hope you'll read the whole thing. Regulatory changes should be made, and mergers approved or barred based on specific, enforceable commitments that the electronic superhighways will meet public goals and realize the potential of digital technology. That potential arises from the extraordinary spaciousness of the broadband information highway, contrasted with the scarcity of broadcast spectrum and the limited number of cable channels that defined the mass media era. Properly constructed and administered, the information highway has enough capacity to permit passage not only for a band of channels controlled by the network operator, but also for a common carriage connection that is open to all who wish to speak, publish, and communicate on the digital information highway. For the first time, electronic media can have the diversity of information we associate only with the print media. But we can't rely on the promises of industry or the wonders of the competitive marketplace alone to create this infrastructure. We need legislative benchmarks to ensure that all citizens have access to advanced information infrastructure. We will achieve this goal not by having government build the whole thing, but by finding a new communications policy framework that works for the market and brings benefits to consumers. We've expanded the concept of "Open Platform Services" from just narrowband ISDN, to include any switched, digital service, offered on a common carriage basis, by any provider. To achieve the full potential of new digital media, we need to make available what we call Open Platform services, which reach all American homes, businesses, schools, libraries, and government institutions. Open Platform service will enable children at home to tie into their school library (or libraries all around the world) to do their homework. It will make it possible for a parent who makes a video of the local elementary school soccer game to share it with parents and students throughout the community. Open Platform will make it as easy to be an information provider as it is to be an information consumer. Open Platform services provide basic information access connections, just as today's telephone line enables you to connect to an information service or the coaxial cable running into your home connects you to cable television programming. This is not a replacement for current online services such as America Online or Compuserve, but rather is the basic transport capacity that one needs to access the multimedia version of these information services. Specifically, Open Platform service must meet the following criteria: * widely available, switched digital connections; * affordable prices; * open access to all without discrimination as the content of the message; * sufficient "up-stream" capacity to enable users to originate, as well as receive, good quality video, multimedia services. Open Platform service itself will be provided by a variety of providers over interconnected networks, using a variety of wires, fiber optics, coax cable, and wireless transmission services. But however it is provided, if it is affordable and widely available, it will be the on-ramp for the nation's growing information superhighway. Rather than a narrow focus on stopping or delaying the proposed mergers, policy makers should use the leverage of the moment to create a new Communications Act that serves the public interest. The Administration and Congress can create and prompt the deployment of open platforms by using the political leverage at its disposal. Bell Atlantic, TCI, Time Warner, US West and others involved in recent mergers are all promising to build open platforms. Telecommunications giants are asking policymakers for permission to enter new markets or to form new, merged entities. Rather than per se opposition to current mergers, or mere reliance on competition to build the data highways, make the mergers and other accommodations conditional on providing affordable open platform services. The terms of this new social contract should be written into a new Communications Act, revised for the information age. With a real "social contract" in hand, we just might realize the Jeffersonian potential of the data superhighways. Together with a coalition of public interest groups and private industry, the Electronic Frontier Foundation is working to establish Open Platform objectives in concrete legislation. Open Platform provisions, which would cause near term deployment of Open Platform services, are present in both the recent Senate infrastructure bill and the latest draft of House telecommunications legislation, soon to be introduced. We are also working with the Administration to have Open Platform policies included in the recommendations of the Information Infrastructure Task Force. In addition to federal policy, critical decisions about the shape of the information infrastructure will be made at state and local levels. Since 1991, EFF has been working with a number state legislatures and public utility commissions to have affordable, digital services offered at a local level. As cable and telephone infrastructures converge, we will also work with local cable television franchising authorities. We invite all who are concerned about these issues to join with us in these public policy efforts. We hope that everyone will have a look at our new proposal, and join in to help us. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPEN PLATFORM CAMPAIGN CONTACT: Daniel J. Weitzner, Senior Staff Counsel, <djw@eff.org> EFF DOCUMENTS ON THE SUBJECT (in ftp.eff.org): Open Platform Campaign: Public Policy for the Information Age /pub/eff/papers/op2.0 <O.P. mission and proposal> /pub/eff/papers/op2.0.ps.z <gzip'd postscript version> /pub/eff/papers/op2.0.readme -> .../announce.op2 <the file you are reading now> Senate Telecommunications Infrastructure Act of 1993 (S. 1086) /pub/eff/legislation/infra-act-s1086 /pub/eff/legislation/infra-act-s1086-summary EFF Testimony on Senate Infrastructure Bill /pub/eff/legislation/kapor-on-s1086 This material is also available via WAIS and gopher from wais.eff.org and gopher.eff.org, respectively. If you do not have access to any of these net tools, feel free contact us for assistance. --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: EFF Welcomes Mary Beth Arnett, Staff Counsel Mary Beth Arnett has joined EFF as Staff Counsel for the Public Policy team. Mary Beth has published an extensive analysis of two federal information disclosure programs involving community and workplace right-to-know laws. She served for four years as an attorney at a law and policy research institute and for six years as a public member of a state licensing and regulatory board. Mary Beth's objective in electronic information analysis is to devise policies consistent with the Jeffersonian ideal of empowering citizens through information provision. --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: Please Help Us Get EFF's BBS Up and Running! The Electronic Frontier Foundation is working to start an EFF bulletin board system to reach the "other half of cyberspace" -- BBSs, including the tens of thousands of participants in BBS networks such as FidoNet. EFF considers these hobbyist grassroots pioneers as important to the future of communications as experienced net.surfers, and both cultures of the online world have much to gain or lose by the issues at stake. The EFF BBS will provide a full mirror of our FTP/gopher/WAIS archives, as well as networked messaging, including FidoNet's and UseNet's relevant conferences, such as BBSLAW, SYSLAW, comp.org.eff.talk, alt.security.pgp, alt.politics.datahighway, and more. The board will serve as a place for those with modems but no Internet access to get the information they need to avoid pitfalls and to support campaigns to preserve our rights online. However, money does not grow on trees, and EFF is asking for contributions of hardware donations so that the project can get rolling. Our wish list: Basic system components - 486DX2-66 motherboard, 512k cache, preferably EISA-VESA; tower case w/300+ watt PS; both floppies; AT keyboard 800+ MB SCSI-2 hard drive SCSI-2 HD controller card with at least 1MB cache, especially EISA or VESA 8-16 MB RAM in 4MB 60NS SIMMs SVGA card, 1024x768, 1MB+ SVGA monitor .28mm, 1024x768, 14"+, colour Fast ethernet card, especially EISA or VESA SCSI or parallel tape backup 4 fast modems (19.2 USR DS, 28.8 Hayes V.fast, 19.2 ZyXEL, and one other, undecided yet, probably Telebit V.terbo) For non-critical components (i.e., anything but MB/CPU, HD and modems), we'll certainly consider used equipment. BBS software has already been donated, though various other software is still needed (utils, editors, Fido mailer, etc.) All donors will receive a note of thanks in EFFector and on the BBS in a permanent bulletin. Note that donations are tax deductible. --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: Statistics Needed for Analysis of Lost Crypto Sales The Software Publishers Association (SPA) has been working to bring about the liberalization of export controls on mass market software with encryption capabilities. SPA's much-publicized study of the foreign availability of cryptographic products has clearly demonstrated the widespread and easy availability of encryption that is stronger than what U. S. firms have been able to export. However, NSA claims that software companies have not demonstrated sufficiently the economic harm they have suffered from export controls. Congress has told us that without better economic harm statistics, our chances of liberalizing the export laws are slim. Therefore, WE NEED YOUR HELP. If you or your firm has lost business because you have not been able to export your encryption product, please let us know. Be as specific as possible. It is the cumulative effect of this information that will be most compelling. Please pass this on to those in your firm who might know about these matters or might also be able to respond. Please send replies to i.rosenthal@applelink.apple.com or to Ilene Rosenthal, General Counsel Software Publishers Association 1730 M St. NW, Suite 700 Washington DC 20036 (202) 452-1600 ext. 318 or to Douglas Miller (same address) (202) 452-1600 ext. 342 When sending this information to SPA, please also send a copy to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, as both SPA and EFF are working on this issue, and both organizations aim to reduce the ITAR restrictions on cryptographic technology. You can send your information to eff@eff.org. --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: Retrieving the National Information Infrastructure Documents WHAT IS AVAILABLE -- AND HOW? Information on the National Information Infrastructure is available both electronically, in print and in CD-ROM. Please note that some information varies at each site and can include daily updates from the White House, press releases and briefings, background information, and reports. As additional documents and retrieval sources become available, we will update this factsheet. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Retrieving an electronic version -- at no charge A. Retrieval via electronic bulletin board B. Retrieval via electronic mail C. Retrieval via gopher and telnet D. Retrieval via anonymous-ftp I. RETRIEVING AN ELECTRONIC VERSION -- NO CHARGE A - VIA ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARDS 1) Bulletin Board at Fedworld (National Technical Info. Service) Set software parameters for: N-8-1 Dial: (9600 baud) 703-321-8020 B - VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL 1) send a message to: almanac@ace.esusda.gov Depending on the information you are looking for, using the commands below, you will receive the information you request. TO RETRIEVE: TYPE: Agenda for Action send niiagenda Technology for Economic Growth Catalog send nii-tech catalog C - VIA GOPHER AND/OR TELNET 1) gopher ace.esusda.gov (Extension Service, USDA) To get to this gopher, type: gopher ace.esusda.gov From the Main Menu, choose: 5. Americans Communicating Electronically/... 3. National Information Infrastructure documents 2) gopher sunsite.unc.edu (University of North Carolina) To get to this gopher, type: gopher sunsite.unc.edu Sunsite Archives 12. National Information Infrastructure Information/ 4. Technology Initiative Summary/ 3) telnet gopher.nist.gov Telnet to: gopher.nist.gov login as "gopher". Choose the menu item "DOC Documents". Choose "niiagenda.asc". D - VIA ANONYMOUS-FTP 1. Internet The package is available in ASCII format through anonymous FTP and Gopher. The name of the file is "niiagenda.asc". Access information and directories are described below. FTP: Address: ftp.ntia.doc.gov Login as "anonymous". Use your email address or guest as the password. Change directory to "pub". Address: enh.nist.gov Login as "anonymous" using "guest" as the password. Address: isdres.er.usgs.gov Login as "anonymous". Use your email address or "guest" as the password. Change directory to npr. The package also may be present in a self extracting compressed file named "niiagend.exe". Remember to issue the binary command before "getting" the compressed file. E -- BULLETIN BOARD ACCESS Bulletin Boards The package is available for downloading on the following bulletin boards: Name: NTIA Bulletin Board Phone: (202) 482-1199 Communications parameters should be set to either 2400 or 9600 baud, no parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit. The package is available under the "press releases" menu item as "niiagend.asc" (ascii) and "niiagend.exe" (compressed-self extracting). Name: Department of Commerce Economic Bulletin Board Phone: 202-482-1986 (voice instructions for subscription information) This is a "fee for service" bulletin board. Subscribers may download the "niiagenda" document for normal on-line charges. Non-subscribers may subscribe for $35 and download the report for no additional charge. Free telnet access and download services are available through the Internet by using the address: ebb.stat-usa.gov. Use trial as your user id. Name: FedWorld On-line Information Network Phone: (703) 321-8020 Communications parameters should be set to either 2400 or 9600 baud, no parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit. To access "niiagend.asc" from the FedWorld menu, enter "<f s w- house". Telnet access is available through the Internet using the address: fedworld.doc.gov. Further information about FedWorld can be obtained by calling (voice) 703-487- 4648. What Else is Available? We currently have information on the National Initatives available for access in various ways. To find out more on what is available, Send a message to the following addresses. NAFTA nafta@ace.esusda.gov Health Security Act health@ace.esusda.gov National Performance Review npr@ace.esusda.gov National Information Infrastructure nii@ace.esusda.gov Each one of these has information on how to access the documents for your areas of interest. The most up-to-date version of this document can be obtained by sending mail to: nii@ace.esusda.gov. Do not place any text in the body of the message. --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Subject: NSF Digital Library Open Meeting - Dec. 6 The National Science Foundation (NSF) will hold a Briefing Meeting concerning the NSF/ARPA/NASA "Research on Digital Libraries" Initiative (Announcement NSF-93-141). This meeting will take place on December 6, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, at the Auditorium of the National Academy of Sciences, 2100 C Street N.W., Washington, DC. This meeting will be open to all parties interested in responding to this Initiative. For further information, please contact Gwendolyn Barber. By telephone: (202) 357-9572. By email: gbarber@nsf.gov. NSF-93-141 is available via US Mail or email, believe it or not, but due to a move to a new office, there may be a delay in getting it to you. --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- EFFector Online is published biweekly by: Electronic Frontier Foundation 1001 G Street, N.W., Suite 950 East Washington, DC 20001, USA Phone: +1 202 347 5400, FAX: +1 202 393 5509 Internet Address: eff@eff.org or ask@eff.org Coordination, production and shipping by: Stanton McCandlish, Online Activist <mech@eff.org> Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the view of the EFF. To reproduce signed articles individually, please contact the authors for their express permission. *This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled electrons.* --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION In order to continue the work already begun and to expand our efforts and activities into other realms of the electronic frontier, we need the financial support of individuals and organizations. If you support our goals and our work, you can show that support by becoming a member now. Members receive our bi-weekly electronic newsletter, EFFector Online (if you have an electronic address reached through the Net), and special releases and other notices on our activities. But because we believe that support should be freely given, you can receive these things even if you do not elect to become a member. Your membership/donation is fully tax deductible. Our memberships are $20.00 per year for students and $40.00 per year for regular members. You may, of course, donate more if you wish. --==--==--==-<>-==--==--==-- Mail to: Membership Coordinator Electronic Frontier Foundation 1001 G Street, N.W. Suite 950 East Washington, DC 20001 USA Membership rates: $20.00 (student or low income membership) $40.00 (regular membership) [ ] I wish to become a member of the EFF. I enclose: $_______ [ ] I wish to renew my membership in the EFF. I enclose: $_______ [ ] I enclose an additional donation of $_______ Name: Organization: Address: City or Town: State: Zip: Phone: ( ) (optional) FAX: ( ) (optional) E-mail address: I enclose a check [ ]. Please charge my membership in the amount of $ to my Mastercard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] Number: Expiration date: Signature: ______________________________________________ Date: Optional: I hereby grant permission to the EFF to share my name with other nonprofit groups from time to time as it deems appropriate. Initials:______________________