Where text protocols came from, and why they’re not going anywhere
Text protocols can be read by humans, but they come with drawbacks. Do we need them?
Cryptography, rituals and transparency: The world of key ceremonies
What exactly is a ‘key ceremony’ and why are they important for trust?
Some handy ROA advice from Randy Bush
Simple yet crucial ways to ensure your ROAs are functioning as they should.
Encryption breaking vs subversion: Know the difference
The AN0M police sting, which subverted encryption, has lessons for how we think about trust on the Internet.
What are ping and traceroute, really?
We often use ‘ping’ in conversation. What exactly is it, anyway?
No, the Internet was not ‘down’
The 8 June 2021 disruption wasn’t an infrastructure issue.
What is ‘M of N’ in public/private key signing?
How many pieces of a treasure map need to be shared so one person alone can’t get the treasure?
The IETF is not the ‘standards police’
A recent IETF draft warns of Atlanteans bearing eels. Believe it or not, it’s actually making a decent point.
Trust, but verify: An engaged community is the best defence
The discovery of bad code deliberately inserted into the Linux kernel shows the value of an active community.
Spoofing packets: What is it, and why do people do it?
Spoofed packets allow senders to hide their source address. How do they work and why do they do it?