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> I don't think you can confine the energy you're talking about in the space of a USB stick It is very much possible to incinerate a chip die within a compact,

> I don't think you can confine the energy you're talking about in the space of a USB stick It is very much possible to incinerate a chip die within a compact, hermetically-sealed container without releasing smoke or other tell-tale signs. The US and other wealthy nations' armies use self-contained modules like this in their encrypted radio equipment. Plus, if you need more room, you can mimic an external USB hard drive rather than a keychain drive. > I'm just trying to explain to you the seriousness of what you're proposing It is true that if your handiwork produces smoke, flame, noise, etc. I do not envy your fate. If it happens during arrest, the police might even shoot you. But if, on the other hand, nothing suspicious is seen when your equipment is seized, and weeks later detectives discover a few grams of molten slag where an EEPROM chip should be, I doubt you will be tried for having set off an illicit bomb. You will still go to jail. A reason will be found to put you there - it isn't hard. "Give me six lines written by the most honest man..." Perhaps it only makes sense to rehearse and plan for this data-destruction scenario if you possess secrets that remain important apart from any criminal case against you. > If you wanted to productize such a device would you be able to get Underwriters' Laboratories to (UL) to safety certify it for use in the home? This is very much the wrong question to ask. Something like this can never become a consumer product. The government would never permit it to be openly sold, regardless of any safety considerations. If you view law enforcement officials as your enemy, using unmodified off-the-shelf equipment, regardless of its rarity and expense, is simply stupid. Back doors are a near-certainty. And the only way I know of to securely and unambiguously wipe large amounts of data on short notice is combustion.

marshray 15y ago
It is very much possible to incinerate a chip die within a compact, hermetically-sealed container without releasing smoke or other tell-tale signs. Yes I know it is. I just don't think you are going to homebrew it out of model rocket igniters and magnesium ribbon. The US and other wealthy nations' armies use self-contained modules like this in their encrypted radio equipment. And they're not going to jail for releasing smoke in a federal crime lab. If you view law enforcement officials as your enemy, using unmodified off-the-shelf equipment, regardless of its rarity and expense, is simply stupid. The great majority of the off-the-shelf equipment is not even designed or made in the US. It's used by the US govt as much as anybody else. Back doors are a near-certainty. Really? Name three hidden back doors from the US government. I can only think of one or two, making them pretty rare. Sometimes back doors are found, so it's not that nobody's looking: http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110707_5612.php http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110707_5612.php And the only way I know of to securely and unambiguously wipe large amounts of data on short notice is combustion. Which is why I don't think you're going to do anything except dig yourself deeper.
- asciilifeform 15y ago
  > And they're not going to jail for releasing smoke in a federal crime lab. No, they merely stand to lose wars. How long should a soldier expect to live if the enemy catches him in the middle of destroying encryption keys and understands right away that it is what he is doing? > Name three hidden back doors from the US government. I can only think of one or two, making them pretty rare. Are you serious? Who are you trying to fool? This is an insult to the intelligence of every reader of this site.
  - marshray 15y ago
    How long should a soldier expect to live if the enemy catches him in the middle of destroying encryption keys and understands right away that it is what he is doing? Cryptosystems are designed to protect military secrets, not an individual soldier in such a highly specific circumstance. It's not unheard of to have a "duress code" or other silent wipe functionality, but I doubt hiding the keypress effects from a local observer is a primary concern of infantry soldier gear. The idea is that they would wipe the keys before they are captured. If they are captured in the act of wiping the keys that would be following standard orders. The radio operator would be worth more alive than dead, but he'd still better put his hands up when there's a gun in his face. Are you serious? Who are you trying to fool? This is an insult to the intelligence of every reader of this site. I'll take that as a 'no' then. This back-and-forth is kind of frowned upon on this site. My email is in my profile if you'd like to continue the discussion.

marshray 15y ago

It is very much possible to incinerate a chip die within a compact, hermetically-sealed container without releasing smoke or other tell-tale signs. Yes I know it is. I just don't think you are going to homebrew it out of model rocket igniters and magnesium ribbon. The US and other wealthy nations' armies use self-contained modules like this in their encrypted radio equipment. And they're not going to jail for releasing smoke in a federal crime lab. If you view law enforcement officials as your enemy, using unmodified off-the-shelf equipment, regardless of its rarity and expense, is simply stupid. The great majority of the off-the-shelf equipment is not even designed or made in the US. It's used by the US govt as much as anybody else. Back doors are a near-certainty. Really? Name three hidden back doors from the US government. I can only think of one or two, making them pretty rare. Sometimes back doors are found, so it's not that nobody's looking: http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110707_5612.php http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110707_5612.php And the only way I know of to securely and unambiguously wipe large amounts of data on short notice is combustion. Which is why I don't think you're going to do anything except dig yourself deeper.

asciilifeform 15y ago
> And they're not going to jail for releasing smoke in a federal crime lab. No, they merely stand to lose wars. How long should a soldier expect to live if the enemy catches him in the middle of destroying encryption keys and understands right away that it is what he is doing? > Name three hidden back doors from the US government. I can only think of one or two, making them pretty rare. Are you serious? Who are you trying to fool? This is an insult to the intelligence of every reader of this site.
- marshray 15y ago
  How long should a soldier expect to live if the enemy catches him in the middle of destroying encryption keys and understands right away that it is what he is doing? Cryptosystems are designed to protect military secrets, not an individual soldier in such a highly specific circumstance. It's not unheard of to have a "duress code" or other silent wipe functionality, but I doubt hiding the keypress effects from a local observer is a primary concern of infantry soldier gear. The idea is that they would wipe the keys before they are captured. If they are captured in the act of wiping the keys that would be following standard orders. The radio operator would be worth more alive than dead, but he'd still better put his hands up when there's a gun in his face. Are you serious? Who are you trying to fool? This is an insult to the intelligence of every reader of this site. I'll take that as a 'no' then. This back-and-forth is kind of frowned upon on this site. My email is in my profile if you'd like to continue the discussion.