Objections...

I think one very serious objection to the SkipJack system is
that the secrecy prevents us from coming up with Software implementations
of the system. Naturally, they don't want that to happen because
people start finding easy ways to screw up the encrypted block of 
key information needed by the government. But regardless of that,
software implementations of DES have been extremely useful for
everyone. There is probably 10 times as much encryption done using
software DES than hardware. Maybe 1000 times as much. 

The fact is that software protection is much easier for the public
to use. They don't need to buy an extra chip for their computer. 
They just run some software. It's cheaper. More populist. 

I think this is the most practical and non-inflamatory argument
for public access to the algorithm.

-Peter Wayner

Peter Wayner writes:

> I think this is the most practical and non-inflamatory argument
> for public access to the algorithm.

Along the same lines, I am left scratching my head about the 
"baroque activities in the vault." Surely this is going to 
add substantially to the cost of these chips over a system
that uses a known algorithm and non-escrowed keys.

Given that such a system would be cheaper to produce and would 
offer stronger security, I think it is not especially
inflamatory to suggest that the government is contemplating
either an outright ban or the strong discouragement of 
alternative systems.

-- Doug Barnes
(gumby@wixer.bga.com)