Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Michael S Czeiszperger <czei AT webperformanceinc.com>]

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On Wednesday 17 October 2001 08:53 am, you wrote:
> This is a story about the German parliament considering switching to Linux,
> but I'm not posting it as a "Windows vs. Linux" jab, I'm just taken aback
> by this statement:
>
> "Among the arguments in favor of Linux: reports that some versions of
> Windows contain backdoors designed to grant the U.S. National Security
> Agency access to users' data."
>
> Does anyone know anything more about this? That's some spooky shit.
>

I believe that a programmer at a Canadian cryptography company found some 
type of encryption key in Windows that was named "NSAKEY". The web page 
hosted by this company seems to be gone, but I did find MS's response:

http://www.cdmag.com/Home/home.html?article=/articles/022/122/microsoft_key.html

"Microsoft said the key is labeled ``NSA key'' because NSA is the technical
review authority for U.S. export controls, and the key ensures compliance with
U.S. export laws. The company reiterated that Microsoft has not shared this 
key with the NSA or any other company or agency."

- -- 
Michael S Czeiszperger
czei AT webperformanceinc.com

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