A Worldwide Survey of Encryption Products

24 Pages Posted: 12 Feb 2016

See all articles by Bruce Schneier

Bruce Schneier

Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society; Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

Kathleen Seidel

Independent

Saranya Vijayakumar

Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

Date Written: February 11, 2016

Abstract

Data security is a worldwide problem, and there is a wide world of encryption solutions available to help solve this problem. Most of these products are developed and sold by for-profit entities, although some are created as free open-source projects. They are available, either for sale or free download, all over the world.

In 1999, a group of researchers from George Washington University attempted to survey the worldwide market for encryption products [HB 99]. The impetus for their survey was the ongoing export controls. By collecting debate about US encryption information about 805 hardware and software encryption products from 35 countries outside the US, the researchers showed that restricting the export of encryption products did nothing to reduce their availability around the world, while at the same time putting US companies at a competitive disadvantage in the information security market.

Seventeen years later, we have tried to replicate this survey.

Suggested Citation

Schneier, Bruce and Seidel, Kathleen and Vijayakumar, Saranya, A Worldwide Survey of Encryption Products (February 11, 2016). Berkman Center Research Publication No. 2016-2, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2731160 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2731160

Bruce Schneier (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society ( email )

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) ( email )

79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Kathleen Seidel

Independent ( email )

NH
United States

Saranya Vijayakumar

Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society ( email )

Harvard Law School
23 Everett, 2nd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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