[muglo] Re: PGP

>What is PGP?
>Thanks.-Nancy

Hello Nancy. You know, you can probably get a much more definative 
answer as easily as entering those three initials into your favorite 
search engine.

'PGP' is an acronym for "pretty good privacy." This refers to an 
encryption system, at this time free and publicly available, which 
status my soon be called into question.

"September 21, 2001

IN THE wake of last week's terrorist attacks, some members of 
Congress are considering a call for a ban on strong encryption 
software for e-mail. Last year, the FBI unsuccessfully sought to 
outlaw such programs unless they included a "back door" to permit law 
enforcement agencies to read coded messages. During times of war, 
some personal freedoms -- in this case, the right to privacy -- must 
be sacrificed to protect the nation. Less certain, however, is 
whether enacting this law would prevent future terrorist attacks.

Clearly, encryption poses problems for intelligence gathering. Its 
use by terror groups, including one linked to Osama bin Laden and 
others espousing Palestinian causes, has allowed communication 
"without fear of outside intrusion," former FBI Director Louis Freeh 
told a Senate committee in March. It took more than a year to decode 
files, outlining plans to destroy 11 commercial aircraft after the 
plans were discovered on a computer linked to associates of Ramzi 
Yousef, the convicted mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center 
bombings.

Investigators looking into last week's attacks have already seized at 
least one computer and subpoenaed records from two Internet service 
providers. On Thursday, Sen. Judd Gregg, R-NH, quoted Mr. Freeh as 
saying that encryption was the biggest obstacle for FBI terrorism 
investigators. "

While many might argue that only those with something to hide would 
use encryption, of course what has come to be at stake is the matter 
of privacy. Just how important this is remains an individual matter; 
however, you're bound to notice should you search out those three 
initials that you will also be led to sites offering same.


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