🚀 go-pugleaf

In <PHR.92Sep30185509@napa.telebit.com> phr@telebit.com writes:

> >  I've often thought the No Such Agency could do the following:
> > 
> >    - write encryption/decryption code that runs in an embedded
> >      micro of the kind found in calculators.
> > 
> >    - go to favorite defense contractor that also makes calculators
> >      (e.g. TI), and say "we want you to make a new model of simple,
> >      consumer calculator, priced so lots of people will buy them
> >      (here's some $$$ to make it profitable), and by the way, when
> >      the user types this undocumented 20-keystroke sequence, it should
> >      run this code that we'll supply (from previous step).

There's a commercial product from Racal which actually functions as a pocket
calculator until you activate it with your secret code. It will then work
out one-time passwords to let you into a system.

But the funniest covert function I came across was in one of the Olivetti
2000 series ATMs. There was a long keystroke sequence which would cause a
`test dispense', ie spit out 10 banknotes without your having to put in a
card or anything tedious like that.

One large, ponderous and bureaucratic banking organisation duly recorded
this fact in their branch operations manual. Nothing happened for three years
and then suddenly all the Olivetti ATMs in a particular town started going
out of balance. 

Ross