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(fwd) 38 Hours in Hamburg: A visit to the 10th Chaos Communications Congress
Cypherpunks (and Extropians, too),
(If you respond, only reply to the group you are a member
of...cross-posting between mailing lists gets to be confusing.)
Here's an interesting snapshot report on the 10th Chaos Communications
Congress, a Cypherpunkish European group of some repute. (Actually,
they obviously predate us, but their new interest in digital cash and
crypto parallels our own.)
--Tim May
From: [email protected] (David Farber)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: 38 Hours in Hamburg: A visit to the 10th Chaos Communications Congress
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 4 Jan 94 18:34:54 GMT
Lines: 469
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 94 18:52:54 +0100
Subject: 38 Hours in Hamburg
From: [email protected] (Manny E. Farber)
38 Hours in Hamburg:
A visit to the 10th Chaos Communications Congress
by Manny E. Farber
Armed only with an invitation in English addressed to the "global
community" and a small pile of German Marks, I arrived at the
Eidelstedter Buergerhaus about an hour or so before the beginning of
the 10th Chaos Communication Congress (subtitled "Ten years after
Orwell"), sponsored by the (in)famous Chaos Computer Club. The
Buergerhaus (literally, "citizen's house") turned out to be a modest
community hall; needless to say, not all invited showed up. The
Congress took place between the 27th and the 29th of December. As the
title implies, social as well as technical issues were on the docket.
After forking over 30 DM (about $20) for a pass for the first two
days of the Congress, I sort of felt like asking for a schedule, but
refrained, thinking that asking for scheduled chaos might seem a bit
odd. I went to the cafeteria for breakfast. An organizer started out
announcing, "Anyone who wants to eat breakfast pays 5 Marks, and gets a
stamp, which--no, rather, anyone who wants breakfast pays 5 Marks and
eats breakfast."
The atmosphere was quite collegial and informal, with little more
order than was absolutely necessary. The approximately 150 attendees
were predominantly German (a few from Switzerland and Holland, at least
-- and probably only -- one from the United States, namely myself),
male, and technically oriented. (During an explanation of the
mathematical algorithm underlying electronic cash, a non-techie
objected, "But I don't want to have to think up a 200-digit random
number every time I buy something!" It was explained to him that this
was done by software in the chip-card ...).
Although not mentioned in the invitation, not a word of English was to
be heard; all the events were conducted in German. Some were conducted
in a "talk show" format, with a host asking questions, simplifying
answers, making jokes. A television network carried the video from the
auditorium to other rooms throughout the building (albeit without
sound) along with up-to-the-minute event schedules.
The tone of the discussions of how electronic cash could be
embezzled, or chip cards abused, digital signatures forged, etc., was
constructive rather than destructive. And it was balanced, i.e. not
only "how could a malicious individual embezzle money?" was discussed,
but also "how could the government use chip cards to reduce people's
privacy?" Here, the "hackers" were hackers in the positive sense of
understanding a technology, not in the negative sense of wreaking
havoc. It was, however, noted that trying out a potential weakness of
the "EuroScheck" cash cards was quite easy: it would require buying a
card reader for 1,500 DM and maybe a week of time.
The question of technical solutions to "big brother" did come up in
the presentations about chip cards. The danger is that a pile of cards
is eliminated in favor of a card containing someone's driver's license,
driving record (maybe), employee information, credit information, etc.
etc. A chip card could theoretically be programmed to give out *only*
the information absolutely necessary, e.g. telling a policeman only
that someone is allowed to drive, without disclosing his identity.
The "Hackzentrum" (Hacking Center) turned out to be a room filled
with networked computers and people hacking on them. It seemed mostly
harmless. (I nevertheless did not try a remote login -- I had no
reason to doubt good intentions, but on the other hand, who knows who
wrote or replaced the keyboard driver and what sort of supplemental
functionality it might have?) The packet radio room had a "Digi"
repeating station and, true to the ham radio tradition, where the
conversation centers on who is talking to whom and how well they hear
each other and on what other frequency they might hear each other
better, the computers attached were mostly displaying maps of the
packet radio network itself. I didn't delve very deeply into the
"Chaos Archive," but noticed a collection of maintenance sheets for
telephone equipment among CCC newsletters and other paraphenalia.
Some "signs of the Congress":
- Bumper sticker: "I (heart) your computer"
- Telephone stickers: "Achtung, Abhoergefahr" ("Attention,
Eavesdropping danger"; and the German PTT logo transformed into a
pirate insignia, with the words "Telefun - Mobilpunk" (derived from
"Telefon - Mobilfunk")
- T-shirt: "Watching them (eye-ball) watching us"
- Post-It Note pad (for sale for DM 1.50): a pad of about 50,
pre-printed with a hand-written note: "Vorsicht, Stoerung.
Automat macht Karte ungueltig" ("Careful--Defect. Machine makes
card invalid")
- Word coinage: "Gopher-space"
- Stamp: "ORIGINALE KOPIE" ("ORIGINAL COPY")
The press were told not to take pictures of anyone without their
explicit permission.
Schedules were distributed throughout the Congress. By the evening
of the 27th, a schedule for the 28th, "Fahrplan 28.12 Version 2.0," was
already available ("Fahrplan" means a bus/train schedule; this is
presumably an "in" joke). By 17:30 on the 28th, "Fahrplan 28.12
Version 2.7" was being distributed. (I missed most of the intervening
versions; presumably they were neatly filed away in the Chaos Archive
by then ...)
The scheduled events (in translation) were as follows; a "*" means
that I have included some comments later in this report:
December 27, 1993
- Welcoming/opening
- How does a computer work?
- ISDN: Everything over one network
- Internet and multimedia applications: MIME/Mosaik/Gopher
- Data transport for beginners
- Chip-cards: Technology
* Media and information structures: How much truth remains? Direct
democracy: information needs of the citizen
- Encryption for beginners, the practical application of PGP
* Alternative networks: ZAMIRNET, APS+Hacktic, Green-Net, Knoopunt,
Z-Netz and CL
December 28, 1993
- Encryption: Principles, Systems, and Visions
- Modacom "wireless modem"
- Electronic Cash
- Bulletin board protocols: Functional comparison and social form, with the
example of citizen participation
- Discussion with journalist Eva Weber
- Net groups for students, Jan Ulbrich, DFN
* What's left after the eavesdropping attack? Forbidding encryption?
Panel: Mitglied des Bundestags (Member of Parliament) Peter Paterna,
Datenschutz Beauftragter Hamburg (Data privacy official) Peter Schar,
a journalist from Die Zeit, a representative from the German PTT, a
student writing a book about related issues, and a few members of the
Chaos Computer Club
- Cyber Bla: Info-cram
* How does an intelligence service work? Training videos from the
"Stasi" Ministrium fuer STAatsSIcherheit (Ministry for National Security)
- System theory and Info-policies with Thomas Barth
- Science Fiction video session: Krieg der Eispiraten
("War of the ice pirates")
December 29, 1993
- Thoughts about orgination ("Urheben")
- Computer recycling
- Dumbness in the nets: Electronic warfare
- Lockpicking: About opening locks
- The Arbeitsgemeinschaft freier Mailboxen introduces itself
- In year 10 after Orwell ... Visions of the hacker scene
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE EAVESDROPPING ATTACK
This has to do with a proposed law making its way through the German
Parliament. The invitation describes this as "a proposed law reform
allowing state authorities to listen in, even in private rooms, in
order to fight organized crime." This session was the centerpiece of
the Congress. Bayerische Rundfunk, the Bavarian sender, sent a
reporter (or at least a big microphone with their logo on it). The
panel consisted of:
MdB - Mitglied des Bundestags (Member of Parliament) Peter Paterna
DsB - Datenschutz Beauftragter Hamburg (Data privacy official) Peter Schar
Journalist - from Die Zeit
PTT - a representative from the German PTT
Student - writing a book about related issues
CCC - a few members of the Chaos Computer Club
My notes are significantly less than a word-for-word transcript. In
the following, I have not only excerpted and translated, but
reorganized comments to make the threads easier to follow.
IS IT JUSTIFIED?
MdB - There is massive concern ("Beunruhigung") in Germany: 7 million
crimes last year. Using the US as comparison for effectivity of
eavesdropping, it's only applicable in about 10-20 cases: this has
nothing to do with the 7 million. The congress is nevertheless
reacting to the 7 million, not to the specifics. In principle, I am
opposed and have concerns about opening a Pandora's box.
CCC #1 - The 7 million crimes does not surprise me in the least. I am
convinced that there is a clear relationship between the number of laws
and the number of crimes. When you make more laws, you have more
crimes. Every second action in this country is illegal.
Journalist - Laws/crimes correlation is an over-simplification. There
are more murders, even though there are no more laws against it.
MdB - There is a conflict between internal security, protecting the
constitution, and civil rights. How dangerous is 6 billion Marks of
washed drug money to the nation? Taking the US as an example, the
corrosion may have gone so far that it's too late to undo it. I hope
that this point hasn't been reached yet in Germany.
DsB - I am worried about a slippery slope. There is a tradeoff between
freedom and security, and this is the wrong place to make it; other
more effective measures aren't being taken up.
EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTROLS ON EAVESDROPPING
MdB - Supposedly federal controls are effective. Although there are
very few eavesdropping cases, even if you look at those that are
court-approved, it's increasing exponentially. No proper brakes are
built into the system. As for controls for eavesdropping by the
intelligence service, there is a committee of three members of
parliament, to whom all cases must be presented. They have final say,
and I know one of the three, and have relatively much trust in him.
They are also allowed to go into any PTT facility anytime, unannounced,
to see whether or not something is being tapped or not.
MdB - Policies for eavesdropping: if no trace of an applicable
conversation is heard within the first "n" minutes, they must terminate
the eavesdropping [...] The question is, at which point the most
effective brakes and regulations should be applied: in the
constitution? in the practice?
PTT - True, but often the actual words spoken is not important, rather
who spoke with whom, and when.
DsB - There is no catalog for crimes, saying what measures can be
applied in investigating which crimes. It's quite possible to use them
for simple crimes, e.g. speeding. There is no law saying that the PTT
*has to* store data; they *may*. They can choose technical and
organizational solutions that don't require it.
MdB - This is a valid point, I don't waive responsibility for such
details. The PTT could be required to wipe out detailed information as
soon as it is no longer needed, e.g. after the customer has been billed
for a call.
TECHNICAL TRENDS
Journalist - Digital network techniques make it easy to keep trails,
and there is an electronic trail produced as waste product, which can
be used for billing as well as for other purposes. Load measurements
are allowable, but it can also be used for tracking movements.
DsB - The PTT claims they need detailed network data to better plan the
network. The government says they need details in order to be able to
govern us better.
DsB - In the past, the trend has always been to increasingly
identificable phone cards. There is economic pressure on the customer
to use a billing card instead of a cash card, since a telephone unit
costs less. With "picocells," your movement profile is getting more
and more visible.
PTT - As for the trend towards less-anonymous billing-cards: with the
new ISDN networks, this is necessary. Billing is a major cost, and
this is just a technical priority.
Student - As for techniques to reduce potential for eavesdropping, it
is for example technically possible to address a mobile phone without
the network operator needing to know its position. Why aren't such
things being pursued?
PTT - UMTS is quite preliminary and not necessarily economically
feasible. [Comments about debit cards]. We have more interest in
customer trust than anything else. But when something is according to
the law, we have no option other than to carry it out. But we don't do
it gladly.
THE BIG CONSPIRACY?
CCC #2 - I don't give a shit about these phone conversations being
overheard. I want to know why there is such a big controversy. Who
wants what? Why is this so important? Why so much effort? Why are so
many Mafia films being shown on TV when the eavesdropping law is being
discussed? What's up? Why, and who are the people?
Student - I am writing a book about this, and I haven't figured this
out myself. My best theory: there are some politicians who have lost
their detailed outlook ("Feinbild"), and they should be done away with
("abgeschaffen").
PTT - We're in a difficult position, with immense investments needed to
be able to overhear phone conversations [in digital networks (?)]. We
have no interest in a cover-up.
MdB - As for the earlier question about what NATO countries may do.
During the occupation of Berlin, they did want they wanted on the
networks. In western Germany, it has always been debated. Funny
business has never been proved, nor has suspicion been cleared up.
CCC #2 - After further thought, I have another theory. American
companies are interested in spying on German companies in order to get
a jump on their product offerings.
MdB - That's clear, but there are more benign explanations. Government
offices tend towards creating work. Individuals are promoted if their
offices expand, and they look for new fields to be busy in. In Bonn,
we've gone from 4,000 people to 24,000 since the 50's.
CCC #1 (to MdB) - Honestly, I don't see why you people in Bonn are
anything other than one of these impenetrable bureaucracies like you
described, inaccessible, out of touch with reality, and interested only
in justifying their own existence.
MdB - Well, *my* federal government isn't that.
CLIPPER CHIP CONTROVERSY
Student - Observation/concern: in the US, AT&T's encryption system is
cheap and weak. If this becomes a de facto standard, it is much harder
to introduce a better one later.
Journalist - In the US, the Clipper chip controversy has centered more
on the lost business opportunities for encryption technology, not on
principles. There every suggestion for forbidding encryption has
encountered stiff opposition.
Student - As for the Clipper algorithm, it's quite easy to invite
three experts to cursorily examine an algorithm (they weren't allowed
to take documents home to study it) and then sign-off that they have no
complaints.
Journalist - As for the cursory rubber-stamping by the three experts
who certified the Clipper algorithm, my information is that they had
multiple days of computing days on a supercomputer available. I don't
see a problem with the algorithm. The problem lies in the "trust
centers" that manage the keys. I personally don't see why the whole
question of cryptology is at all open ("zugaenglich") for the
government.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
DsB - The question is not only whether or not politicans are separated
from what the citizens want, but also of what the citizens want.
Germans have a tendency to valuing security. Different tradition in
the US, and less eavesdropping. I can imagine how the basic law
("Grundgesetz") could be eliminated in favor of regulations designed to
reduce eavesdropping, the trade-off you (MdB) mentioned earlier. The
headlines would look like "fewer cases of eavesdropping", "checks built
in to the system," etc., everyone would be happy, and then once the law
has been abolished, it would creep back up, and then there's no limit.
MdB - (Nods agreement)
CCC #2 - There are things that must be administered centrally (like the
PTT), and the government is the natural choice, but I suggest that we
don't speak of the "government," but rather of "coordination." This
reduces the perceived "required power" aspect ... As a closing remark,
I would like to suggest that we take a broader perspective, assume that
a person may commit e.g. 5,000 DM more of theft in his lifetime, live
with that, and save e.g. 100,000 DM in taxes trying to prevent this
degree of theft.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEDIA AND INFORMATION STRUCTURES
In this session, a lot of time was wasted in pointless philosophical
discussion of what is meant by Truth, although once this topic was
forcefully ignored, some interesting points came up (I don't
necessarily agree or disagree with these):
- In electronic media, the receiver has more responsibility for judging
truth placed on his shoulders. He can no longer assume that the sender
is accountable. With "Network Trust," you would know someone who knows
what's worthwhile, rather than filtering the deluge yourself. A
primitive form of this already exists in the form of Usenet "kill" files.
- A large portion of Usenet blather is due to people who just got their
accounts cross-posting to the entire world. The actual posting is not
the problem, rather that others follow it up with a few dozen messages
debating whether or not it's really mis-posted, or argue that they
should stop discussing it, etc. People are beginning to learn however,
and the ripple effect is diminishing.
- Companies such as Microsoft are afraid of the Internet, because its
distributed form of software development means they are no longer the
only ones able to marshal 100 or 1,000 people for a windowing system
like X-Windows or Microsoft Windows.
- If someone is trying to be nasty and knows what he's doing, a Usenet
posting can be made to cost $500,000 in network bandwidth, disk space, etc.
- At a Dutch university, about 50% of the network bandwidth could have
been saved if copies of Playboy were placed in the terminal rooms.
Such technical refinements as Gopher caching daemons pale in comparison.
- All e-mail into or out of China goes through one node. Suspicious,
isn't it?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALTERNATIVE NETWORKS
Several people reported about computer networks they set up and are
operating. A sampling:
APS+Hacktic - Rop Gonggrijp reported about networking services for the
masses, namely Unix and Internet for about $15 per month, in Holland.
There are currently 1,000 subscribers, and the funding is sufficient to
break even and to expand to keep up with exponential demand.
A German reported about efforts to provide e-mail to regions of
ex-Yugoslavia that are severed from one another, either due to
destroyed telephone lines or to phone lines being shut off by the
government. A foundation provided them with the funds to use London
(later Vienna), which is reachable from both regions, as a common node.
The original author of the Zerberus mail system used on many private
German networks complained about the degree of meta-discussion and how
his program was being used for people to complain about who is paying
what for networking services and so forth. He said he did not create
it for such non-substantial blather. The difference between now and
several years ago is that now there are networks that work,
technically, and the problem is how to use them in a worthwhile manner.
A German of Turkish origin is trying to allow Turks in Turkey to
participate in relevant discussions going on on German networks (in
German) and is providing translating services (if I heard right, some
of this was being done in Sweden). This killed the rest of the
session, which degenerated into a discussion of which languages
were/are/should be used on which networks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW AN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE WORKS: STASI TRAINING VIDEOS
The person introducing the videos sat on the stage, the room
darkened. The camera blotted out his upper body and face; all that was
to see on the video, projected behind him, was a pair of hands moving
around.
It apparently didn't take much to earn a file in the Stasi archives.
And once you were in there, the "10 W's: Wo/wann/warum/mit wem/..."
("where/when/why/with whom/...") ensured that the file, as well as
those of your acquaintances, grew.
The videos reported the following "case studies":
- The tale of "Eva," whose materialistic lifestyle, contacts with
Western capitalists, and "Abenteuerromantik" tendencies made her a
clear danger to the state, as well as a valuable operative. She swore
allegiance to the Stasi and was recruited. Eventually the good working
relationship deteriorated, and the Stasi had to prevent her from trying
to escape to the West. The video showed how the different parts of the
intelligence service worked together.
- A member of the military made a call to the consulate of West
Germany in Hungary. The list of 10,000 possible travellers to Hungary
in the relevant time frame was narrowed down to 6,000 on the basis of a
determination of age and accent from the recorded conversation, then
down to 80 by who would have any secrets to sell, then down to three
(by hunch? I don't remember now).
One video showed how a subversive was discreetly arrested. Cameras
throughout the city were used to track his movements. When he arrived
at his home, a few workers were "fixing" the door, which they claimed
couldn't be opened at the moment. They walked him over to the next
building to show him the entrance, and arrested him there. A dinky
little East German car comes up, six people pile into it. Two
uniformed police stand on the sidewalk pretending nothing is happening.
David Farber; Prof. of CIS and EE, U of Penn, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6389
Join EFF! For information about membership, send mail to [email protected].