Subject: RE: File privacy

From: George Gallen <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 13:29:01 -0400

How would encrypting files help, if the ISP gets the unencrypted files
first then forwards them to the pine reader? If the ISP has backups of
all mail incoming/outgoing, they can read it in plain english, unless
of course you are sending/receiving encrypted emails.

George

-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Scanlan [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: Friday, April 09, 1999 1:07 PM
To: Pine Discussion Forum
Subject: File privacy

On Fri, 9 Apr 1999, VirtualBalls wrote:

>   I would like to know if there is a way to set my PINE
> account so MY ISP doesn't read my DEVELOPER info, that
> they have NEVER seen before.  :) 

Some methods for keeping your files private.

o  Encrypt them with the very best algorithms available.
Gaurd the keys jelously (but *don't* forget them).  Of
course, you're limited to the tools your ISP provides.

o  Keep your files on a system that you administer and can
keep secure (a laptop in a safe, perhaps).  Lock your
backups away.  Access may be a little les conveinent this
way.

o  Hide in the crowd.  Use an ISP with *lots* of customers
and try not to draw attention to yourself.  Use a service
such as MailAndNews for persenal e-mail instead of the
systems at work.  Pick a user name that doesn't draw
attention to yourself.

o  Trust No One...

It all depends on how much effort you're willing to go to
and how much trouble you'll have to deal with if your files
are compromised.

------------- My opinions are mine alone, and that fact -------------
------------- provides intense relief for my coworkers. -------------
Joe Scanlan                                         Clark County CEIT
Systems Programmer                                   fax 702 455-4932
[email-masked] (not work)                                PO Box 551761
[email-masked] (work)              Las Vegas, NV, 89155-1761, USA
-------------------- http://www.co.clark.nv.us/ ---------------------

---

From: Joseph Scanlan <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 1999 15:08:41 -0700 (PDT)

On Fri, 9 Apr 1999, George Gallen wrote:

> How would encrypting files help, if the ISP gets the
> unencrypted files first then forwards them to the pine
> reader? If the ISP has backups of all mail
> incoming/outgoing, they can read it in plain english,
> unless of course you are sending/receiving encrypted
> emails. 

Agreed.  The files must remain encrypted the entire time
they are on the ISP's system.

I expect I've overlooked a lot of other points.  I don't do
the encryption thing myself.  I don't say anything in my
e-mail that others would want to read... err.. perhaps I
should say "that I mind strangers reading".  ;-)

-------------------- http://www.co.clark.nv.us/ ---------------------