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On Distributed Communications:
IX. Security, Secrecy, and Tamper-Free Considerations
One in a series of eleven Memoranda detailing the Distributed Adaptive Message Block Network, a proposed digital data communications system based on a distributed network concept. It considers the security aspects of such a system, in which secrecy is of great importance. Present security concepts are based on an implied assumption that any "cleared" person must be trusted and that any "uncleared" person is a potential spy. Further, information is either classified or not. From time to time one wonders if these binary attitudes are really a valid basis on which to predicate a military communications systems. This Memorandum, in which the underlying concepts and resulting safeguards to be built into the network are described, is written on the basis of fully anticipating the existance of spies within our ostensibly secure communications secrecy protection structure; hence, our primary interest is in raising the price of espied information to an excessive level.
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Contents
Preface HTML
Summary HTML
Foreword HTML
Section One: Introduction HTML
Section Two: The Paradox of the Secrecy About Secrecy HTML
Section Three: Some Fundamentals of Cryptography HTML
Section Four: Implications for the Distributed Network System HTML
Section Five: A "Devil's Advocate" Examination HTML
Appendix:
Use of a Function of N-Boolean Variables as a Second-Order Modifier for "Next-Key" Generation HTML
Appendix:
List of Publications in the Series HTML
This research is sponsored by the United States Air Force under Project RAND-Contract No. AF 49(638)-700 monitored by the Directorate of Development Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff, Research and Development, Hq USAF.
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