CAP Talk

Operations => Tools of the trade => Topic started by: Eclipse on April 09, 2014, 02:57:44 AM

Title: Tested Explains: What Does it Mean to Call on a "Secure Line"?
Post by: Eclipse on April 09, 2014, 02:57:44 AM
With the constant discussion about radio encryption, here's some historical background on what it takes
to encipher encrypt a phone conversation.

http://www.tested.com/tech/concepts/460683-tested-explains-what-does-it-mean-call-secure-line/ (http://www.tested.com/tech/concepts/460683-tested-explains-what-does-it-mean-call-secure-line/)

(http://files.tested.com/photos/2014/04/08/55-59860-2-1396990139.jpg)

(http://files.tested.com/photos/2014/04/08/56-59859-ste_secure_telephone_-_national_cryptologic_museum_-_dsc07-1396989958.jpg)

(http://files.tested.com/photos/2014/04/08/55-59863-images1-1396995000.jpg)

Personally, I don't think I'll see wide-spread or generalized use of encryption on CAP radios in my
lifetime.  There's simply no need for it in the majority of operations - most missions, encampments, air shows, etc.
and when you consider we can't even get a standard channel plan or even radios in place, key management becomes
a problem of geometric proportions that could actually become a mission liability.
Title: Re: Tested Explains: What Does it Mean to Call on a "Secure Line"?
Post by: tribalelder on April 20, 2014, 10:32:57 PM
If the mission is serious enough to require encrypted radios, client agency should be requiring all the players have current clearances. 

In the 90's, one of the boating magazines had an article from a less successful gulf coast drug smuggler who was writing from a 'gated community' where he was a long term guest of the United States. He had been doing DF by boat for recrystalled ELT's in drug packages that were dropped by air into the gulf-he wrote he learned DF (and got the equipment) in CAP.  Intercepted unencrypted  radio traffic is the not BIG security risk.



Title: Re: Tested Explains: What Does it Mean to Call on a "Secure Line"?
Post by: Spaceman3750 on April 21, 2014, 02:30:35 AM

Quote from: tribalelder on April 20, 2014, 10:32:57 PM
If the mission is serious enough to require encrypted radios, client agency should be requiring all the players have current clearances. 

In the 90's, one of the boating magazines had an article from a less successful gulf coast drug smuggler who was writing from a 'gated community' where he was a long term guest of the United States. He had been doing DF by boat for recrystalled ELT's in drug packages that were dropped by air into the gulf-he wrote he learned DF (and got the equipment) in CAP.  Intercepted unencrypted  radio traffic is the not BIG security risk.

In the tech world, we encrypt the IM to our bosses staking our claim to the 11:30 lunch slot.