FC: Al Qaeda terrorist manual tells how to use PGP crypto software

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

John Young sends along an Expresso newspaper article. It says the
paper's reporters uncovered an 82-page handwritten manual in an Al
Qaeda base in Kandahar. That manual, according to a Babelfish
translation, included instructions showing terrorists how to use PGP.

Concidentally, the Washington Post says in an editorial today that
terrorist manuals talk about buying guns -- and concludes this is a
reason for more regulations and new federal felonies:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46728-2001Dec14.html
> A document posted on a Web site used by al Qaeda operatives tells
> followers that they "should use lax firearms laws in the United States
> to get sniper and military assault training." The posting also notes
> that in the United States it is "perfectly legal" to purchase
> high-powered firearms. [...] Why not make it more difficult for
> terrorists to operate in this country? The gun show loophole is
> outlandish and dangerous.

Anyone want to bet how long it'll take before some politicos start
talking about the "encryption purchase loophole?"

-Declan

---

http://semanal.expresso.pt/primeira/artigos/interior.asp?edicao=1520&id_artigo=ES45132

   [...]

   Ao lado de algumas técnicas de combate, aparentemente rudimentares,
   foi possível encontrar um manual sobre uma das técnicas de criptagem
   de comunicações electrónicas mais avançadas do mundo, o Pretty Good
   Privacy (PGP). Este método, considerado praticamente inviolável, foi
   proibido pelo Congresso dos Estados Unidos por receio que pudesse ser
   utilizado para encobrir actividades terroristas.
   
   Num dos molhos de papéis, encontrámos também algumas páginas
   arrancadas do número de Janeiro de 1998 da revista «Flying», com
   anúncios sobre cursos de pilotagem, uma reportagem sobre uma série de
   catástrofes aéreas e um artigo sobre as características técnicas do
   Saratoga, um modelo de avioneta.

   [...]

And:
http://semanal.expresso.pt/primeira/artigos/interior.asp?edicao=1520&id_artigo=ES45175




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