Netscape wins 128-bit export approval (Nando Times coverage)

      Copyright ©1997 Nando.net
      Copyright ©1997 Agence France-Presse
      
   WASHINGTON (June 24, 1997 10:56 a.m. EDT) - Netscape Communications
   announced Tuesday that the U.S. government had granted it permission
   to export two types of software with encryption capacity that give
   users greater protection of information when using online services.
   
   Encryption technology scrambles information and renders it unreadable
   without a password or software "key."
   
   This is the first time Netscape has been permitted to export products
   with strong encryption to customers outside the United States and
   Canada.
   
   Illinois-based NetDox said, meanwhile, it was authorized to export
   similar encryption programs over the Internet.
   
   Permission came amid growing debate over legislative moves in
   Washington concerning the preventions of strong encryption technology
   unless the government holds the "keys" to decode the programs. Some
   fear that widespread use of uncrackable codes will hamstring law
   enforcement and promote terrorism.
   
   The software industry maintains that restrictions dating to the Cold
   War -- seeking to keep powerful software from enemies -- have cost it
   billions of dollars annually.
   
   The Commerce Department approved for export Netscape Communicator
   client software, with 128-bit encryption capabilities.
   
   California-based Netscape also received approval to export to
   certified banks worldwide its SuiteSpot server software, also with
   128-bit encryption capabilities.
   
   According to the software industry, breaking a 128-bit cipher requires
   trillions of times as much work as one using 56 bits, providing
   considerable protection against hackers.
   
    Copyright ©1997 Nando.net