Abstract
Three Israeli computer scientists-Uriel Feige, Amos Fiat and Adi Shamir,
of the Weizmann Institute-figured out how to play the game, called "Zero
knowledge proofs of identity". They publicized their result at conferences
and they applied for U.S. patent protection. Ironically the United States said
disclosure was "detrimential to the national security", and imposed a secrecy
order. The three Israelis sought relief, and, with intervention from powerful
sources, they got it. Though no one will say for certain, it appears that the
National Security Agency (NSA), the goverment decrypter of secrets, stepped
in to help. What the research is, and why the NSA had reason to involve itself,
is the story we present here.
