Re: Excellent, Mr. Paul Tiger

[Paul E Condon <pecondon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, Mar 31, 2006 at 09:50:48PM -0700, Some Guy wrote:
> Rockwell was the chip maker for many modems of that era. Signetics had a
> license to produce similar chips from Rockwell, but they weren't used that
> much. National Semiconductor had similar functionality, but didn't sell
> well.
> The last time that I played with any modems in a lab setting was in 1997. I
> have no clue what is going on these days.
> 
> I once listened to a lecture on telecom security at NIST from a NSA engineer
> who stated that the only secure computer was one that was set in a block of
> concrete at the bottom of the ocean. At the time I was amused. No longer.

People who work for NSA are part of the National Security apparatus. They have
a special attitude towards information about security:

 If you aren't getting information that you feel you should have,
never let on to outsiders that you have a problem. Let them believe
that you're doing just fine.

 If you have a way to get at some information that others want to keep
from you, never brag.

People who are not basically spies, but have to worry about spys, are a 
much better source of 'how to' information. They are inclined to talk
more. Maybe even talk too much.

But for telecom in particular, nothing I've heard indicates that its anything
but a *very* hard problem. I just think that a good secure location can 
be created that is more accessable than the interior of a block of concrete
at the bottom of the ocean. 

-- 
Paul E Condon           
pecondon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx