Re: Five days left to find the oldest data loss incident

On 11-May-09, at 7:29 AM, Juha-Matti Laurio wrote:

> The oldest documented vulnerability in computer security world is  
> password file disclosure vulnerability from 1965, found by Mr. Ryan  
> Russell.
>
> Open Security Foundation launched a competition in April to find the  
> oldest documented data loss incident.
>
> They have announced that the last day to make a submission is next  
> Friday - 15th May.
>
> The contest page is located at
> http://datalossdb.org/oldest_incidents_contest
>
> Juha-Matti


Mechanical computers are computers. The loss and the algorithmic crack  
of the Enigma machine circa 1939 should count - the story and break
of the more difficult 4 rotor Naval Machine at Bletchley park  
recovered from the U-boat and cracked in 1941 is the most famous.

http://users.telenet.be/d.rijmenants/en/enigmauboats.htm

But I would nominate the break of the 3 Rotor Enigma circa 1939, by  
the Polish, as the first documented computer security vulnerability.

http://www.avoca.ndirect.co.uk/enigma/index.html

cheers,
--dr

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