Re: Mainstreaming PGP on Usenet

[dlv@bwalk.dm.com (Dr. Dimitri Vulis)]

Just Rich <rich@c2.org> writes:
> comp.os.ms-windows.announce will also start using PGPMoose when I get
> around to it, probably today.

All moderated newsgroups should use it.

However the robomoderator that Igor Chudov wrote uses digital signatures to
authenticate _posters as follows: there's a "white list" (as opposed to "black
list") of trusted posters whose submissions will be approved and posted
automatically, without going through any moderator. A person on the "white
list" can request that the robomod check his signature and not post it if the
submission may be a forged e-mail. I strongly urged Igor to make digital
signatures mandatory for "white list" membership, but he argued that a lot of
likely posters lack the brains to use PGP. The robomod will look at things like
"Received" lines in the e-mailed submission to try and detect forgeries.

While at it, here's a pre-filled ballot. Just add your name and e-mail it
to russian-vote@netagw.com.

===== BEGINNING OF BALLOT: Delete everything BEFORE this line =====
-------------------------------------------------------------------
soc.culture.russian.moderated Ballot
<SCRM-0001> (Do not remove this marker!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please provide your real name, or your vote may be rejected.  Place
ONLY your name (ie. do NOT include your e-mail address or any other
information; ONLY your name) on the next line beside "Voter name:".
Voter name:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Insert YES, NO, ABSTAIN, or CANCEL inside the brackets for each
newsgroup listed below (do not delete the newsgroup name):

 Your Vote   Newsgroup
 ---------   ---------
[ YES     ]  soc.culture.russian.moderated (moderated)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
===== END OF BALLOT: Delete everything AFTER this line ============

Vote YES to see how a robomoderator that uses PGP works out.

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<a href="mailto:dlv@bwalk.dm.com">Dr. Dimitri Vulis</a>
Brighton Beach Boardwalk BBS, Forest Hills, N.Y.: +1-718-261-2013, 14.4Kbps