ietf-openpgp
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Re: The case against redundancy and isolation

1997-11-24 11:58:26
At 02:56 PM 11/22/97 +0000, Ian Brown wrote:

   1. We should not MUST MIME *or* Armour. Both increase the amount of code
   needed for a minimal implementation, which none of us want. As Dave
   said, linearly increased code increases exponentially the potential for
   errors.
   
   2. We are not trying to eliminate Armour. It is entirely appropriate
   that it should be in there as an option to provide backward
   compatibility, if implementors so wish.
   
   3. Both systems are for converting fully secure binary PGP data into a
   form which can be safely stored in/sent across 7-bit systems. Mail is
   such a system. Armour/MIME does nothing for security. As Dave and Jon
   have both said, OP is NOT a mail standard. It is a security standard.
   7-bit conversion should therefore not be a MUST. As Lindsay Mathieson
   said, we can safely assume most file systems can cope with 8-bit data.
   
Excellent statement, Ian. I can live with not MUSTing any of them.

        Jon



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Jon Callas                                  jon(_at_)pgp(_dot_)com
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