On 6 Mar 2016, at 2:30 PM, Richard Frawley <[email protected]> wrote:
> http://flarm.com/statement-by-flarm-technology-about-recent-unsolicited-emails/ > > <http://flarm.com/statement-by-flarm-technology-about-recent-unsolicited-emails/> Smells like bullshit. http://flarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FLARM-System-Design-and-Compatibility.pdf <http://flarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FLARM-System-Design-and-Compatibility.pdf> "Encryption of the radio protocol is a consequence of the requirements for privacy and security and was thus introduced nearly a decade ago: It protects the system from abuse but also from rogue devices implementing the protocol and system incorrectly or incompletely. The latter may have serious consequences for users of proper devices since incorrect data may lead to undefined behavior on the receiver end. The encryption applied is an industrial-strength symmetric cipher, fast enough to be run on all devices with no performance degradation. Since decryption or interception of encrypted communication is illegal in most countries, this also ensures the integrity of the system beyond the technical barriers. Furthermore, the encryption can be enhanced with software updates if security is compromised.” This is a half-baked technical-sounding justification for a restraint of trade. Publish the standard, and have independent auditors judge compliance with the standard to award a FLARM-compatible Service Mark for compatible implementations. Devices that aren’t “rogue” get to advertise themselves as FLARM(sm), devices that don’t, don’t. Comps can specify that they won’t accept FLARMs without the servicemark. Then let the market’s desire for interoperability clean up the raggedy ends. Using encryption to lock competitors out of the protocol altogether is going to be incredibly funny in a few years as soon as FLARM decides to stop providing software support to the 20,000-odd obsolete devices bought between 2004 and 2010. If you want to keep FLARM you’ll need to buy another device from the same company that just shafted the device you’ve already bought. - mark
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