PGP tutorial

>Date: 14 Jul 93 19:50:26 EDT
>From: Michael Glazer <72440.2236@CompuServe.COM>
>Subject: PGP
>
>Folks,
>
>    I'm trying to learn more about practical cryptography in general
>    and PGP and similar programs in particular.  Any advice?
 
@article{Nathan92,
   author = {Paco Xander Nathan},
   journal = {Fringeware Review},
   month = {July},
   number = {1},
   pages = {17--18},
   title = {Tutorial: PGP},
   volume = {1},
   year = {1992}
 
Fringeware Review is available for $3.50 from
Fringeware Inc., P. O. Box 49921, Austin, TX 78765
(512-477-1366, fringeware@wixer.bga.com)
 
This issue also has articles on inter-experiential snorkeling,
cruzin' the internet, email lists, tom jennings, the abolition
of work, mind control, cyborganics, melt-o-media and even cypherpunx.

Rather than pointing people to strange publications we've never heard
of written by authors without credentials, might I suggest...

1) The PGP docs themselves are very good and far better as a tutorial
   on cryptography than any of the "PGP tutorials" that have appeared
   in the fringe literature. They are also free.

2) Read a real text on cryptography. It isn't a childrens game. Its a
   real branch of math and computer science, and really bright people
   devote their lives to it. If you wanted to learn about medicine,
   would you pick up a professional medical text, or something written
   in a 'zine by people you hadn't heard of?


Perry

Peter Davidson says:
>  
> >Date: 14 Jul 93 19:50:26 EDT
> >From: Michael Glazer <72440.2236@CompuServe.COM>
> >Subject: PGP
> >
> >Folks,
> >
> >    I'm trying to learn more about practical cryptography in general
> >    and PGP and similar programs in particular.  Any advice?
>  
> @article{Nathan92,
>    author = {Paco Xander Nathan},
>    journal = {Fringeware Review},
>    month = {July},
>    number = {1},
>    pages = {17--18},
>    title = {Tutorial: PGP},
>    volume = {1},
>    year = {1992}
>  
> Fringeware Review is available for $3.50 from
> Fringeware Inc., P. O. Box 49921, Austin, TX 78765
> (512-477-1366, fringeware@wixer.bga.com)
>  
> This issue also has articles on inter-experiential snorkeling,
> cruzin' the internet, email lists, tom jennings, the abolition
> of work, mind control, cyborganics, melt-o-media and even cypherpunx.
>

In message <9307151349.AA05001@snark.shearson.com>, "Perry E. Metzger" writes:
>
> 
> Rather than pointing people to strange publications we've never heard
> of written by authors without credentials, might I suggest...
> 
	Excellent comments, Perry, yes, but *I* have heard of Fringeware,
so maybe I'll throw some of my comments about Paco, as an "author
without credentials." (Not that I'm a cypherpunk with credentials or
anything. =)
	(I agree that reading the PGP-docs is probably the best way to
learn to use PGP, yet some people prefer simple tutorials-- when
advocating encryption-for-the-masses I don't expect everyone to
understand how RSA works, etc.)
	Fringeware is a 'zine which Paco Xander Nathan publishes, and while
he's no cypherpunk, he's an intelligent guy, so I'm pretty sure his
article would be a good one.

--
| Sameer Parekh-zane@genesis.MCS.COM-PFA related mail to pfa@genesis.MCS.COM |
| Apprentice Philosopher, Writer, Physicist, Healer, Programmer, Lover, more |
| "Symbiosis is Good" - Me_"Specialization is for Insects" - R. A. Heinlein_/
 \_______________________/ \______________________________________________/

> In message <9307151349.AA05001@snark.shearson.com>, "Perry E. Metzger":
> > Rather than pointing people to strange publications we've never heard
> > of written by authors without credentials, might I suggest...
> > 
> 	Excellent comments, Perry, yes, but *I* have heard of Fringeware,
> so maybe I'll throw some of my comments about Paco, as an "author
> without credentials." (Not that I'm a cypherpunk with credentials or
> anything. =)
> ...
> 	Fringeware is a 'zine which Paco Xander Nathan publishes, and while
> he's no cypherpunk, he's an intelligent guy, so I'm pretty sure his
> article would be a good one.
> Sameer Parekh-zane@genesis.MCS.COM-PFA related mail to pfa@genesis.MCS.COM

Thank you kindly Sameer!!
 
I'm pleased to find a ref to FWR#1 here, in a bibliography no less :)  I'll
add a plug that our new magazine is in int'l distribution, ISSN 1069-5656.

The tutorial was written as a practical intro for people who would *not*
be comfortable reading this list, but who would probably read the PGP docs
anyway.  The premier issue includes an article about Cypherpunks from my
interview/stay/club-hopping with Eric Hughes back in Sep 92, along with a 
tutorial on how to join interesting email lists, such as this one.  LERI-L's 
cofounder Scotto adds philosophical insights about the Net, virtual 
communities and lists in general, plus Tom Jennings favored us with 
beautific wisdoms on a predominantly cypherpunk theme.

Whether I am a "cypherpunk" or not is as always debatable, but to assuage
your fears Perry, I've been on this list nearly a year, posting occasionally.
Creditials?  I have degrees in Math & CompSci from Stanford, +20 years
programming experience including a lot of Unix & comm work for Bell Labs, 
and my writing appears in Mondo 2000, WiReD, 2600, bOING-bOING, Pix-Elation,
WER, etc..  some of which, to relative extents, appear to hold value within
the context of this list. (tongue placed firmly in cheek)  Those of you who
actually read 'em may have noticed my bent for going mano-a-mano in court
and on the streets against distopian organizations such as the Secret 
Service, the DEA's droids and a particular multinational telecom giant 
which shall go unmentioned.

FWR is jointly published with my biz partner Jon Lebkowsky, who shares
a similar trail of magazine gigs, along with fame as illuminary/host/
gopher editor on the WELL and president of EFF-Austin..  We run a popular
Interent email list, fringeware@wixer.bga.com

Hopefully, knowing these tidbits, we can all rest easier at night, assured
that the hallowed trust of PGP has not been tainted by an unsocialized
and heathen publication.  NB: Perry, we're *TICKLED* silly that you refered
to us as "strange"; may we consider this as "letter to the editor" material? 
BTW, we'd been waiting eagerly..  FWR staff had decided to just shush and 
wait for SOME kind of mention/review to pop up here, eventually :)  

Thank you.
 
pxn.
----
PS: even our firm's *lawyer* participates in this list: 
strange.. credentials.. geez!  :)