Computer Security and Cryptography

1.8 THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY

The development of the computer in the United States was fostered in part by the National Security Agency (Fig. 1.7) [Bramford, 1982], which merged several separate cryptologic organizations when it came into being on November 4, 1952. The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (CSS) is responsible for the protection of U.S. communications and the production of foreign intelligence. The Director of NSA (DIRNSA) is a military officer, currently Lieutenant General Keith B. Alexander, USA. The Deputy Dirrector of NSA (D/DIRNSA) is normally someone from within the organization, and is currently, Mr William B. Black Jr.

The NSA distinguishes between various types of communication intelligence activities:

• COMSEC    (Communications Security).    The protection resulting from any measures taken to deny unauthorized persons information derived from the national-security-related telecommunications of the United States, or from any measure taken to ensure the authenticity of such telecommunications. (National Intelligence Reorganization and Reform Act of 1978.)
• COMINT    (Communications Intelligence).    The interception and processing of foreign communications passed by radio, wire, or other electromagnetic means, and the processing of foreign encrypted communications, however transmitted. Interception comprises search, intercept, operator identification, signal analysis, traffic analysis, cryptanalysis, decryption, study of plaintext, the fusion ...