Unix software and USSR

[Thomas Tornblom]

In article <11394 at alice.att.com> dmr at alice.att.com (test) writes:


   2) crypt(1) and the 'encrypt' entry point in crypt(3)--as opposed
   to the 'crypt' entry point used for passwords--were removed
   from overseas distribution.  The distinction was fine.  Approximately,
   the one-way character of the password mechanism did not fall within
   the protected area, whereas the ability of both crypt(1) and
   the general DES encode-decode to produce secret messages put
   them in the category of things that needed licences for export.
   Note that DES was not treated specially here-- crypt(1) is not
   DES, for example.  (Though doubtless any mention of 'DES'
   served as a flag to the watchful.)

Hi Dennis!

crypt(1) has nothing to do with DES, it is a "one-rotor machine designed
along the lines of the German Enigma". I don't think DES is or was subject
to any export restrictions.

At least in the man pages on our machines the only thing I could find that
was restricted was crypt(1).

Thomas

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