Re: pgp, edi, s/mime

From: Raph Levien <raph@cs.berkeley.edu>
> I think you're referring to the possibility that PGP 3.0 may use a
> public key algorithm other than RSA. However, if this is the case, it
> won't be compatible with PGP's installed base. In addition, I don't
> believe that there has been a public key encryption algorithm proposed
> which is free of patent controversy.

I have recently gone to work for PGP, Inc.

PGP 3 will support both discrete log and RSA cryptography.  It will
interoperate with both, so that when you send a message to someone
who has an RSA key, it will use RSA, and when you send to someone who
has a discrete log (El Gamal/DSS) key, it will use discrete log
algorithms.  So there is full compatibility with existing keys, while
allowing people to move to cryptography which will be patent free
in the U.S. after next year.

A free version will be available with this functionality, with
source code.  Existing users of PGP will hopefully find it easy
to upgrade.

I cannot say when it will be available, other than to say that the
functionality exists for generating and using all these kinds of keys,
and we have four programmers, including myself, working full time on
getting this version out.

Hal

At 4:49 pm -0400 10/12/96, Hal Finney wrote:

> I have recently gone to work for PGP, Inc.

Yes!!!!  Yes!!!!  Yes!!!!

There *is* a God.

Thank you Phil. Thank you whoever is funding Phil.

Hot Damn. I love this place.

I know that PGP, Inc. has a tough row to hoe now, but damn, they're hiring
all the right people.

I haven't had this much fun since the hogs ate my little brother...

Cheers,
Bob Hettinga


-----------------
Robert Hettinga (rah@shipwright.com)
e$, 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA
"The cost of anything is the foregone alternative" -- Walter Johnson
The e$ Home Page: http://www.vmeng.com/rah/

Hal Finney wrote:
> I have recently gone to work for PGP, Inc.

This is extremely good news. I publicly take back a lot of my pessimism
about the PGP project.

> PGP 3 will support both discrete log and RSA cryptography.  It will
> interoperate with both, so that when you send a message to someone
> who has an RSA key, it will use RSA, and when you send to someone who
> has a discrete log (El Gamal/DSS) key, it will use discrete log
> algorithms.  So there is full compatibility with existing keys, while
> allowing people to move to cryptography which will be patent free
> in the U.S. after next year.

Ok. I'll take your word for it.

> A free version will be available with this functionality, with
> source code.  Existing users of PGP will hopefully find it easy
> to upgrade.
> 
> I cannot say when it will be available, other than to say that the
> functionality exists for generating and using all these kinds of keys,
> and we have four programmers, including myself, working full time on
> getting this version out.

Good news.

Raph