[messaging] Audible public-key fingerprints

[Nathan of Guardian]

On 08/20/2014 02:58 AM, Dominik Schuermann wrote:
>  If you just want the property of limited
> physical audio propagation, I would like to present our work on this:
> http://www.ibr.cs.tu-bs.de/papers/schuermann-tmc2013.pdf
> 
> (shameful advertisement following...)
> We use ambient audio to create a bitsequence which is identical enough
> on two devices. Based on this sequence we can start a confidential and
> authenticated communication. This method transmits no sounds on its own
> and just exploits existing ambient audio. We propose to use it in closed
> meeting rooms automatically because it is unobtrusive and requires no
> user interaction.

That is very interesting work, and maps well to a very real user stories
beyond the corporate conference room scenario you laid out, namely
coordination meetings among small activist groups, as well as in person
meetings between a journalist and source.

Thanks for sharing.