ENCRYPTION IS A MUST!

A 128-bit encryption number has a possible 2128 or 3,402,823,669,209,384,634,633,746,074,300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 different combinations! This would be like trying to find one particular grain of sand in the Sahara Desert. And yet it may not be enough anymore with the new quantum computers out there...

Boston T Party Puts it this way in his fantastic "Book Bullet Proof Privacy" (1997)
www.javelinpress.com

Thou Shall encrypt thy data.

One would think that this was a normal thing to do, however it is not and many computer has been hacked,taken or otherwise compromised with the result being great harm or lack of freedom to it's owner being the result. (sometimes even the innocent are found guilty)

Keep your pass phrases simple yet unfamiliar to anyone but yourself!

Change your pass phrases frequently yet not predictably on the same day each time.

Boston Tea Party also recommends IDEA or RSA algorithm.

I did a Search using the IDEA algorithm and came across a few sites with a wealth of information as to how encryption works and to be quite honest it was rather mind numbing,( Granted it is about 2:30 am). One site Crypto Systems Inc Offered quite a bit of information, PLUS a free download version to get your teeth cut.
FREE DOWNLOAD With a full version for only $49.95!
What is your personal information worth?

Boston T Party (BTP) states in Chapter 4 page 5 of his book,

The Government doesn't use DES for classified material--which speaks volumes.

In his "Introduction to the Use of Encryption" Peter Meyer states:
In the case of DES there has long been widespread suspicion that the National Security Agency (NSA) influenced its designers at IBM so that it was strong enough to withstand most attacks but not strong enough to withstand the NSA computers.

The original design submitted by IBM permitted all 16 x 48 = 768 bits of key used in the 16 rounds to be selected independently. A U.S. Senate Select Committee ascertained in 1977 that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) was instrumental in reducing the DES secret key to 56 bits that are each used many times, although this had previously been denied by IBM ... -- Massey, p.541.

funny the friendly guys as IBM who gave the NAZI's their system of cataloging their atrocities in death camps and even maintained the equipment DURING THE WAR, also might be involved in helping to back door you in the modern police state.

As far as I can figure there are only two reasons for Encryption.

1. Make that which in on your personal computer or workstation utter nonsense to anyone but you and those who you wish to know what that information contains ( Files, documents, programs etc.) and
2. Make that which you send to someone else over the internet via email utter nonsense to anyone other then the intended recipient.

Both of these reasons are valid and totally within the privacy rights of ANYONE and should not have to be explained to anyone for any reason. After all you don't send all your letters to friends and family via a post card!

And now for an object lesson from the Bible from a Good King who let everyone know what he had:

Isa 39:1 ¶ At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.

2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.

4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. ( Sounds like he filed the LONG FORM)

5 ¶ Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:

6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Remeber this little story about April 15th Next year..(smile)

In Christ,

The Preacher