GAK?

Forgive me for asking a naive question, but what exactly is GAK?  I have seen 
it mentioned on the list several times in the last few days and don't 
recognize it.  

				Brad

> 
> Forgive me for asking a naive question, but what exactly is GAK?  I have seen 
> it mentioned on the list several times in the last few days and don't 
> recognize it.  
>

It's a cypherpunk' coined acronym for "Government Access to Keys;" 
a parody on the possibility of SKE (Software Key Encryption).

- paul

>From: paul@hawksbill.sprintmrn.com (Paul Ferguson)
>Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 11:35:06 -0500 (EST)

>It's a cypherpunk' coined acronym for "Government Access to Keys;" 
>a parody on the possibility of SKE (Software Key Encryption).

Tim May keeps tying GAK to SKE, but I object to that.

SKE is a small subset of "Key Escrow" (using the gov't's term for the
moment) while GAK is a superset of "Key Escrow".  IMHO, it is GAK we need
to stay focussed on.  SKE is a danger to track, but it's by no means the
whole danger.

 - Carl

>Date: Wed, 10 Aug 94 08:13:24 PDT
>From: bshantz@spry.com (Brad Shantz)

>Forgive me for asking a naive question, but what exactly is GAK?  I have seen 
>it mentioned on the list several times in the last few days and don't 
>recognize it.  

It's my term.

GAK = "Government Access to [Citizens'] Keys"

I am offended at the gov't's use of the innocent sounding "Key Escrow" to
describe GAK, so I am using GAK to refer to this practice.  That term zooms
in on the one important characteristic of what the gov't is trying to do
here.  "Key escrow", on the other hand, could be something very innocent --
an arrangement I set up with my lawyer and a bank, for example.

 - Carl