[PLUG] Protecting bandwidth...

[Daggett, Steve]

Paul Johnson:
> On Thu, Sep 04, 2003 at 02:42:56PM -0700, Russ Johnson wrote:
> > That doesn't hide the fact that something went from you to 
> > them, or vice versa.
> 
> Sure it does.  Nobody but your correspondent can read it, so you could
> have encrypted a whole lot of nothing for all anybody else is 
> concerned.

  This is an intelligence art called "pattern analysis".  You don't need to
read the message to glean information about the communication.  You can tell
a lot about an organization by watching the information that leaks out
around the edges.

  This is serious stuff.  The Pentagon set up an in-house pizza delivery
after reporters started getting hot "something's happening" tips from
Domino's delivery boys.  A lot of the overhead reconnaissance stuff is based
on pattern analysis tricks.  

  "Zero knowledge" means not leaking *any* information your attacker could
use. 

Steve D...