When Nerd Worlds Collide, next on Fox

[serinde]

(13:05:27) syringiavulgaris: Slash-commands.
(13:05:37) syringiavulgaris: You can't start a line with a slash cos it thinks it's a command to the program.
(13:05:40) dariodevil: So apparently, Waid's revelation of Clark typing "/encrypt" when speaking freely on AIM about his secret identity to his Mom is feasible!!
(13:05:49) dariodevil: IT'S TEHCNOLGY!!1
(13:06:24) syringiavulgaris: It's at least passable at first blink.
(13:06:37) syringiavulgaris: I don't know if the IM spec has an encryption whatsit, but it's conceivable
(13:07:03) dariodevil: I'm kidding.
(13:07:10) dariodevil: I think that's one of the stupidest things I've ever seen.
(13:07:23) dariodevil: AND I'VE SEEN A MAN PUNCH HIMSELF IN THE FACE TO BUM A CIGARETTE.
(13:08:31) syringiavulgaris: It's not wholly. But I wouldn't trust it to AIM, fo God's sake, even if there *was* great encryption.
(13:09:13) dariodevil: But it's like, fucking talking on the phone about it. Probably worst, it's in text.
(13:09:54) syringiavulgaris: And text can be logged. Usually is in fact. If anyone hax0rs Ma Kent's computer...
(13:10:04) syringiavulgaris: Maybe Clark doesn't understand Teh Intarweb that well
(13:10:42) dariodevil: GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
(13:11:07) syringiavulgaris: ha ha I am the funny.

Comments

[xlerb.livejournal.com]

It is at least theoreticallly possible to get end-to-end encryption that can't be spied on even by something that knows all about your cryptographic protocol and can alter messages in transit, provided you have some way to authenticate each other — a shared secret, or X.509 certificates, or something. I think that part can be skipped if you (that's the generic “you”, BTW) can assume the adversary is just passively listening.

And when I say “end-to-end”, I mean that it's established between the two IM programs on, well, the ends of the conversation, and does not involve any IM server except to pass bits back and forth; so, anything between them — and that medium could be AIM or Jabber or shortwave radio or pigeons — just gets the ciphertext.

Yes, I know that, metaphorically speaking, I'm bringing several dozen artillery pieces to a bingo game here. Also that I should be asleep by now.