After exchanging email with Eric Hughes and other listmembers, I find that
the previous attempt at putting together a cypherpunks FAQ seems to be moribund.
I have a lot of experience building FAQs, and maintain several popular ones
on USENET, including:
* The PC-UNIX Hardware and Software Buyer's Guides
* The list of Publicly Known Bugs in USL UNIX
* So You Want To Be A UNIX Wizard? (The Loginataka)
* Telebit Trailblazer how-to FAQ
Accordingly, I'm able and willing to take on this job.
The hardest thing about writing a FAQ is to define its scope and level of
detail. Accordingly, SOP if you know what you're doing is to start by
generating a list of questions to be answered, and/or an outline. I've done
this below.
1. Why cypherpunks?
a. Privacy is essential to freedom.
b. The government cannot be relied on to protect your privacy rights.
c. Technology can give individuals leverage against would-be oppressors,
but only if we're sufficiently smart and dedicated to build the levers.
d. Cypherpunks exists to build and propagate privacy software.
2. What are the essentials of privacy software?
a. Public-key cryptosystems for secure communication.
b. Unforgeable electronic signatures for message authentication.
c. DC-net or similar protocols to thwart spoofing.
3. What are the potential applications of good privacy software?
a. Secure communications.
b. Digital cash.
c. Electronic voting.
d. Electronic contracts.
e.
participants (1)
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esr@snark.thyrsus.com