A microprocessor selective encryption terminal for privacy protection

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on an experiment performed by the METREK Division of The MITRE Corporation from November 1975 through August 1976. The purpose of the experiment was to determine how effectively a low cost microcomputer could provide privacy protection to a user of a time-shared computer system. The microprocessor was used to selectively encrypt information entered at the terminal before transmission to the host computer so that the protected information never appears in plaintext form at the host computer. The advantages and disadvantages of this approach along with the operational details of the experimental system are presented.

REFERENCES

• 1: "Encryption Algorithm for Computer Data Protection", National Bureau of Standards, Federal Register, Vol. 40, No. 52---Monday, March 17, 1975.
• 2: Carson, J. H., W. R. Flury and J. S. Welch, "The Selective Encryption Terminal: A New Approach to Privacy Protection", M76-56, The MITRE Corporation, METREK Division, September 1976.
• 3: Corasick, M. J., "Protection of Computer-Based Information Systems", M75-235, The MITRE Corporation, May 1976.
• 4: The Privacy Act of 1974, Public Law 93--579.
• 5: "NBS Standard Puts Encryption in DP System", Computerworld, June 7, 1976.
• 6: Sykes, D. J., "Protecting Data by Encryption", Datamation, August 1976, Vol. 22, No. 8, pp. 81--85.