A fair extrapolation would also be to say
that they need to deliver stuff they
still afraid to transmit (keys.)

If any encryption scheme was unimpregable
(as some claim,) why would they just not
send the next key encrypted within an
earlier key?  (Or why change keys at all
if the scheme is so perfect?)

Because they're well aware that any encrypted
data transmission can be broken by brute
force and keys must be changed regularly
in a timely manner.

Tracy Johnson
MSI Schaevitz Sensors


-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Hirsch [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 3:02 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Data encryption for the HPe3000


Johnson, Tracy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Do you now have any doubts as to why all
> military services and diplomatic corps
> over the world still use couriers?

Well, one thing they use couriers for is to deliver the keys for their
encryption equipment.  Other than that, I'm not sure what they're for.