[Cryptography] Crypto and rustling

[Peter Gutmann]

Dave Horsfall <dave at horsfall.org> writes:

>How would an owner design a brand that could not be altered, and how could a
>rustler get around it?  For example, the owner would not use a single letter
>(a circle for example could be branded around it), and would not use letters
>that could be altered (such as F -> E, L -> E, O -> Q, T -> I, etc), whereas
>a rustler would have to find a compliant blacksmith.

What century are we talking about?  If it's now, inject a microchip.  If it's
19th-century Australia (or 19th-century anywhere), hang (i.e. publicly
execute) the rustlers.

Some problems are most easily solved by moving the goalposts to where the ball
is going, not the other way round.

Peter.