more snake oil? [WAS: New uncrackable(?) encryption technique]

[Nicko van Someren]

I appreciate that as cryptographers we should be rightly skeptical of 
anyone claiming to have a new, unbreakable encryption scheme.

That said, given the tone of the message from Multiplex Photonics 
perhaps launching attacks on, or laughing at, those who are ill 
informed about cryptography is not the best use of our energies.  If 
this system is so eminently breakable then surely we should be applying 
our skills to solve what scientists in another field currently believe 
to be a hard problem, thereby advancing the sum of human knowledge, 
rather than just sitting around sniggering at them.

	Nicko


On Friday, Oct 25, 2002, at 07:25 Europe/London, Udhay Shankar N wrote:

> [Moderator's note: so long as society continues to turn a blind eye to
> the harvesting of serpents for lipids, the international trade in
> snake oil will continue unabated. -- Perry]
>
> On Sun, 13 Oct 2002 15:45:58 +0100, in comp.security.misc Multiplex 
> Photonics <info at multiplexphotonics.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >We have developed a new encryption technique that we believe to be
> >uncrackable - we have patented the method and intend to issue it as
> >freeware for non-commercial use.
> >Basically, we are a biotechnology company who have developed this 
> system
> >as an offshoot from our development of signal analysis systems.
> >Until we are able to distribute this as a piece of software, we have
> >produced technical documentation of the method and would be very keen 
> to
> >see if anyone would like to examine the method and/or develop an
> >implementation themselves.
> >We are not trying to sell anything to anyone - if someone were able to
> >find a method of cracking this system, this would help us immeasurably
> >in the development of our biotech product.
> >The technical documentation is available for free download in the
> >download section of our website at:
> >http://www.multiplexphotonics.com - there is no advertising,
> >registration or product that we are trying to sell you.
> >Anyone interested can contact us by email at 
> info at multiplexphotonics.co.uk
> >
> >We hope that this community will find this of interest
> >may thanks
> >Miles Kluth
> >
> >Multiplex Photonics Ltd.
> >http://www.multiplexphotonics.com
> >email: mailto:info at multiplexphotonics.co.uk
>
> -- 
> ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
>
>
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