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How to make encryption w
Until many people use encryption those who encrypt will be
targets. The biggest barrier to widespread use of encryption is
that you have to leave your mail package to work with separate
encryption programs and message files. To overcome this people
need a messaging system which makes encrypting and decrypting as
easy as pushing a button.
The package should allow plugging and unplugging encryption
programs. This lets people make their own technical, ethical and
legal choices. The package also must be significantly better
than the mail packages people use now, or they won't switch, and
therefore won't encrypt.
We've done it: Cyberdesk automates access to cyberspace and
supports third party encryption programs seamlessly. Today
Cyberdesk manages CompuServe (both email and forums), MCI Mail,
cc:Mail (both local LAN and remotely), and The WELL (both email
and conferences), with more to follow. It runs under Windows and
includes features such as distribution lists and a spelling
checker. Cyberdesk is in Beta now and fast approaching release.
All you need is a simple interface to use an encryption program
with Cyberdesk. This interface is usually just two short batch
files, one for encryption and another for decryption. In some
cases it may be a small program. We do not plan to provide these
interfaces or any specific encryption. In addition to allowing
people flexibility in their choices, we hope this approach will
make ITAR irrelevant.
Yep, I'm asking you to support a commercial package without
monetary compensation from us. You may decide to charge users
for your interface, of course. We'll give a copy of Cyberdesk to
anyone who creates an interface for an unsupported encryption
package.
We have a chance to make it easy, and therefore common, for
people to encrypt. All we need is the interfaces. Cypherpunks
write code.
Doug