worked at home or very close to home since travel was, for the most part, expensive and slow. Most businesses and governments did their work on the globenet. Omerta made sure that they could do this without worrying about their privacy.
"We protect people's secrets. Most governments and businesses use it. The most interesting are the mafias or other groups who mainly engage in illegal activities," Max informed them.
"But how do you do that?" asked Clio. "I mean, say someone stores all their information on your system. How do you keep a spy or hacker from impersonating the rightful owner and gaining access to their information?"
"Well, in order to access the data, your handheld takes several biometric readings. Everyone knows about the thumb print scanner these days, right?" replied Seth. The women nodded. "It also takes your pulse and temperature to make sure you are alive. One of the security features raises a red flag if your pulse is racing while you are trying to access secure data. It alerts the administrator of your network that there may be a problem."
Max cut in. "Your handheld also scans your retina and your face and compares it to what is on file. Another red flag goes up if your pupils are constricted or your face shows signs of stress or injury. So we know it's you accessing the data and we can tell if you are being forced or are otherwise under duress."
"So that's how your handheld knows to call emergency services or the police if you turn it on while you are having a heart attack?" asked Harmony. Seth nodded.
"I read about that," Clio said excitedly. "All those people that have been saved after an accident because the handheld knows to call for help. Amazing. Your code does that, but also protects a person's private data? How?"
"Abstract cryptography." Max answered. "I don't know how well you are acquainted with the mathematics of codes, but we are way beyond public-key encryption methods. We could discuss it further, but I would need to drink some coffee first. I believe this excellent beer has gotten the better of me." The women graciously declined a lecture on mathematics for the evening but Max called for coffee anyway.
Seth had finally noticed the salsa he dribbled down his arm thirty minutes ago and was trying to save his last stain-free shirt. It didn't look like he was having much luck.
"But why would the mafia put all their information in your care? What if the police demanded that you give them access to it?" Kalliope wanted to know.
Seth smiled as he continued to wipe ineffectively at his sleeve. "Ah, there is the secret to our success. We can't. We cannot access the data. It is mathematically impossible for anyone but the owners of the data to do that. And we use cloud computing so even if they came to one of our offices and took a server or even a hundred servers, they could not access the data. They could destroy a hundred servers and it would result in only a minimal loss of anyone's data. It's stored all over the world and all jumbled up. The encryption program reassembles it only for the owner. They could hit Queen Charlotte's Island with a bomb and it would only disrupt our clients minimally. Worst case scenario, they might lose a few memos or a few pages out of a book."
The women looked impressed. Seth was feeling very good about his job as he saw the admiration in Clio's eyes.
"And besides, no policeman could demand such things of us," Max added. "Omerta bought Queen Charlotte Islands from Canada and declared it a separate country. The UN recognizes us as an independent corporate nation. Since the company is the country, our police are actually employees who work to help keep the data secure. It's one of the reasons so many countries entrust us with their secrets. We are a neutral country, like Switzerland. So you see, we are safe as safe can be." He finished grandly. He accidentally spilled some beer on his shirt as he raised his arm.
"I suspect the rest of us would be safer if I
"We protect people's secrets. Most governments and businesses use it. The most interesting are the mafias or other groups who mainly engage in illegal activities," Max informed them.
"But how do you do that?" asked Clio. "I mean, say someone stores all their information on your system. How do you keep a spy or hacker from impersonating the rightful owner and gaining access to their information?"
"Well, in order to access the data, your handheld takes several biometric readings. Everyone knows about the thumb print scanner these days, right?" replied Seth. The women nodded. "It also takes your pulse and temperature to make sure you are alive. One of the security features raises a red flag if your pulse is racing while you are trying to access secure data. It alerts the administrator of your network that there may be a problem."
Max cut in. "Your handheld also scans your retina and your face and compares it to what is on file. Another red flag goes up if your pupils are constricted or your face shows signs of stress or injury. So we know it's you accessing the data and we can tell if you are being forced or are otherwise under duress."
"So that's how your handheld knows to call emergency services or the police if you turn it on while you are having a heart attack?" asked Harmony. Seth nodded.
"I read about that," Clio said excitedly. "All those people that have been saved after an accident because the handheld knows to call for help. Amazing. Your code does that, but also protects a person's private data? How?"
"Abstract cryptography." Max answered. "I don't know how well you are acquainted with the mathematics of codes, but we are way beyond public-key encryption methods. We could discuss it further, but I would need to drink some coffee first. I believe this excellent beer has gotten the better of me." The women graciously declined a lecture on mathematics for the evening but Max called for coffee anyway.
Seth had finally noticed the salsa he dribbled down his arm thirty minutes ago and was trying to save his last stain-free shirt. It didn't look like he was having much luck.
"But why would the mafia put all their information in your care? What if the police demanded that you give them access to it?" Kalliope wanted to know.
Seth smiled as he continued to wipe ineffectively at his sleeve. "Ah, there is the secret to our success. We can't. We cannot access the data. It is mathematically impossible for anyone but the owners of the data to do that. And we use cloud computing so even if they came to one of our offices and took a server or even a hundred servers, they could not access the data. They could destroy a hundred servers and it would result in only a minimal loss of anyone's data. It's stored all over the world and all jumbled up. The encryption program reassembles it only for the owner. They could hit Queen Charlotte's Island with a bomb and it would only disrupt our clients minimally. Worst case scenario, they might lose a few memos or a few pages out of a book."
The women looked impressed. Seth was feeling very good about his job as he saw the admiration in Clio's eyes.
"And besides, no policeman could demand such things of us," Max added. "Omerta bought Queen Charlotte Islands from Canada and declared it a separate country. The UN recognizes us as an independent corporate nation. Since the company is the country, our police are actually employees who work to help keep the data secure. It's one of the reasons so many countries entrust us with their secrets. We are a neutral country, like Switzerland. So you see, we are safe as safe can be." He finished grandly. He accidentally spilled some beer on his shirt as he raised his arm.
"I suspect the rest of us would be safer if I
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