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No Secret Algorithm

Alice and Bob should be able to get hold of a complete description of the algorithm used to ensure safety in the digital money system in a legal way. The security of digital money should not depend on the secrecy of the algorithm used to manufacture or transfer money. Thus, giving everybody the possibility to verify and check the correctness and strength of the used cipher, such a system will inspire overall confidence. At the same time, everyone is able to write software for all electronic devices that can be found in such a system, making manufacturing monopoly and special security measures obsolete.



Adrian Perrig
Fri May 31 09:07:38 MET DST 1996