A Complete Guide To The New 'Crypto Wars' (dailydot.com)

blottsie writes: The latest debate over encryption did not begin with a court order demanding Apple help the FBI unlock a dead terrorist's iPhone. The new "Crypto Wars," chronicled in a comprehensive timeline by Eric Geller of the Daily Dot, dates back to at least 2003, with the introduction of "Patriot Act II." The battle over privacy and personal security versus crime-fighting and national security has, however, become a mainstream debate in recent months. The timeline covers a wide-range of incidents where the U.S. and other allied governments have tried to restrict citizens' access to strong encryption. The timeline ends with the director of national intelligence blaming NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden for advancing the spread of user-friendly, widely available strong encryption.

Comments

Re:Crypto War

[jenningsthecat]

So how many of you so-called geniuses ( Wiley Coyote ) have even begun to look at cryptology and math, and started to try to develop a few methods not of the usual sort? Maybe if a few hundred new encrypton algorithms were to suddenly pop-up, the governments would be a bit behind the curve of breaking them... and thus the race will go to the prolific instead off to the analytic... AND how many of you have begun to encrypt as much as possible? Just to ensure a good work load for the nosy buggers? ( I want my government workers to be busy...)

Somebody obviously thinks you're trolling. I suspect you are too; but I also think you're making a valid, (if somewhat exaggerated and inflammatory), argument for diversity and original research in encryption. Probably a worthwhile percentage of Slashdot members are actually capable of undertaking the work you suggest.

Also, their IS more safety in numbers - if everybody used encryption, there would be a more even balance of power between the people, and the government that is nominally of, by, and for them. Government agencies can have secure, private communications; citizens have the right to the same capability, and at the same degree of effectiveness. In fact, citizens should have the ability to pierce the government veil a lot more than is currently the case - but that's a whole 'nother argument.