On of my main interests are in encryption from its birth to how it was hardened made stronger via hackers finding its exploits, I participated in the distributed network that linked thousands of computers together from around the world that were working trying to break an encrypted key,
Distributed net and its army of volunteers helped to make encryption even stronger, if your interested in donating idle computer time the Distributed network is still working of projects some offer prise money to the owner of the computer that finds the key.
distributed.net: Projects
In the early days strong encryption was by the US government classified as a munitions and export was prohibited.
This is an interesting story if you can get a documentary of the US Government and the Clipper Chip it's a eye opener, a total waste of money and resources as technology outpaced the chip before it could be fully implemented.
In the meantime you all will have to settle for the Wiki,
Clipper Chip
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