RE: [Full-Disclosure] Cryptome Hacked!

From: Steve Wray (steve.wray@paradise.net.nz)
Date: 02/27/03

  • Next message: Kevin Spett: "Re: [Full-Disclosure] Cryptome Hacked!" 
    From: "Steve Wray" <steve.wray@paradise.net.nz>
To: "'Morgan Marquis-Boire'" <morganm@datacom.co.nz>
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 17:00:09 +1300

    You posed a general question;

    > > This brings up the following question: What is the best method for
    > > ensuring the integrity of software which require a high
    > level of trust?

    I answered in general terms.

    But to be particular, I know nothing of this person
    or his software.

    Is the sourcecode available for public scrutiny or isn't it?

    If not then why not?

    Thats a question you might like to consider.

    But don't get too paranoid it might be merely because he's trying
    to make a profit out of it.

    Its just that lacking scrutiny one can never be too sure.

    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: full-disclosure-admin@lists.netsys.com
    > [mailto:full-disclosure-admin@lists.netsys.com] On Behalf Of
    > Morgan Marquis-Boire
    > Sent: Thursday, 27 February 2003 1:44 p.m.
    > To: Steve Wray
    > Cc: schoe@oicinc.com; full-disclosure@lists.netsys.com
    > Subject: Re: [Full-Disclosure] Cryptome Hacked!
    >
    >
    > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
    > Hash: SHA1
    >
    > Why would John Young tamper with the software available on his site?
    > Do you not think that if this were discovered it would reduce
    > what ever
    > credibility he and his site may have in the crypto community?
    > Given the nature of the website and its pro-crypto stance, it makes
    > little sense to me the idea that some one would deliberately
    > weaken the
    > tools provided on the site.
    > In what way do you feel the tools may have been tampered with?
    >
    > On Thu, 27 Feb 2003 12:58:35 +1300
    > "Steve Wray" <steve.wray@paradise.net.nz> wrote:
    >
    > > Sticking my neck out, I'd say that the *best* method would be;
    > >
    > > 0. Be familiar with your OS and with the programming
    > > language in which the software is written and
    > >
    > > 1. Go over the source code line by line inspecting the
    > > whole thing.
    > >
    > > 2. If you don't have access to the source don't trust it,
    > > no way no how.
    > >
    > > Ok that was the dead serious part.
    > >
    > > 3. If people you know and trust have access to the source that
    > > may mitigate failure at (2), but only marginally.
    > > You need a face-to-face relationship with the parties you trust
    > > and who have access to the source; email or other internet
    > > relationships do not count.
    > >
    > > (Ok so certain types of psychopath can reliably lie and fool even
    > > the clinically paranoid. Yup, even people who are psychotically
    > > paranoid can be lured into disclosing their bank details by
    > > a 'creative psychopath'.)
    > >
    > > So if you want to be able to trust it only personal inspection
    > > of the source will do.
    > >
    > > You *did* say "high level of trust"
    > >
    > > Personally I don't feel a need for this level of paranoia. Phew
    > > I can live my life and not feel concerned about the conversations
    > > they have about me on the TV. The ones that noone else can hear.
    > > Mwahahahaaaaaa
    > >
    > > -----Original Message-----
    > > From: full-disclosure-admin@lists.netsys.com
    > > [mailto:full-disclosure-admin@lists.netsys.com] On Behalf Of Sung J.
    > > Choe
    > > Sent: Thursday, 27 February 2003 12:10 p.m.
    > > To: 'full-disclosure@lists.netsys.com'
    > > Subject: [Full-Disclosure] Cryptome Hacked!
    > >
    > >
    > > Cryptome.org, a site for privacy enthusiasts and leftists alike, was
    > > apparently hacked today. Their server is up but "all files were
    > > deleted". Besides the usual anti-American/anti-government
    > vitriol that
    > > is usually found at Cryptome.org, they also distribute
    > crypto software.
    > > This brings up the following question: What is the best method for
    > > ensuring the integrity of software which require a high
    > level of trust?
    > > I am almost sure that any crypto software distributed by
    > such extremists
    > > as John Young (operator of cryptome.org) has been tampered
    > with in some
    > > way. Does anybody else share this opinion?
    > >
    > >
    > > .--------------------------------------------------.
    > > | Sung J. Choe <schoe[at]oicinc.com>, TICSA |
    > > | Systems Administrator, Facility Security Officer |
    > > .--------------------------------------------------.----.
    > > | Oceanic Imaging Consultants, Inc. |
    > > | Phone #: (808) 539-3634 x3634 |
    > > .-----------------------------------.
    > > 568D CAD6 53A0 92E6 4A2A 4E87 3BA0 5F90 37BB 8EE7
    > >
    > >
    > > _______________________________________________
    > > Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
    > > Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html
    >
    >
    > - --
    > Morgan Marquis-Boire
    > Unix Systems Consultant
    > Datacom Systems Ltd.
    > (025) 954-931
    > - --
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    > iD8DBQE+XV9mMMI56vuqwigRAtAdAKC5Xe33yGrZ0GGuTL97ze/1+aQABgCfROz1
    > vnyp8oj2WYZiVsRjJq/Vk+g=
    > =Wpy7
    > -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
    > _______________________________________________
    > Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
    > Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html
    >

    _______________________________________________
    Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
    Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html

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