Re: Context sensitive encryption
Donald E. Eastlake 3rd (dee@cybercash.com)
Thu, 15 Feb 1996 15:32:28 -0500 (EST)
I have nothing against being able to attach files with file name or
additional directory information. Then software can use the Macintosh file
creator and type fields or the crude 3 character extentsions in other systems
to launch applications to handle the file, etc. But these are no substitute
for being able to handle MIME types.
Donald
On Thu, 15 Feb 1996, A. Padgett Peterson P.E. Information
Security wrote: > Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 13:36:06 -0500 (EST)
> From: A. Padgett Peterson P.E. Information Security <PADGETT@hobbes.orl.mmc.com>
> To: resolving-security@imc.org
> Subject: Context sensitive encryption
>
> Robert rites:
> >I am missing something here. Are you saying that PGP has support issues for
> >multimedia, like GIFs and AU, and other special 8bit file thingees? Or are
> >you saying that its rather brut strength method of handling these do not
> >interface with MIME?
>
> Does not have to, already PGP is able to send binaries such as ZIP files
> as ASCII and to determine on decrypt that it was a ZIP file. There is no
> reason that this could not be extended to graphical formats or anything else.
>
> CCMAIL already has the capability to extract a file extension from an
> attachment, examine the WIN.INI definitions, and launch the appropiate
> application just as has been incorporated in the Macintosh for years.
>
> In fact a hierarchial approach is possible today - an attachment with
> a .PGP extension would automatically launce the decoder which would need only
> to request a passphrase, which in turn would automatically launce
> the desired application.
>
> The fact that it is not done today does not mean that it cannot be done or
> would even be particularly difficult.
> Warmly,
> Padgett
>
> ps looks like I will be able to attend on Wed. if the crik don't rise.
=====================================================================
Donald E. Eastlake 3rd +1 508-287-4877(tel) dee@cybercash.com
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