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README.TXT for Top Secret Messenger for ICQ 1.0 - Updated: June 18, 1999
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Copyright (C) 1999 Encryption Software.  All Rights reserved.

Table of Contents:
  Introduction
  What is ICQ?
  Why Register?
  Installation and Usage
  Future Plans
  Updates
  Bug reporting

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Introduction:
   Top Secret Messenger for ICQ is a secure public-key encryption program that,
     among other things, can act as a Mirabilis' ICQ instant messenger program
     add-on to provide instant and easy access to powerful and virtually
     unbreakable encryption right from ICQ's message dialogs.
   TSM for ICQ is based on the highly complex and now well accepted by leading
     mathematicians and encryption specialists in the world as an efficient
     and stronger alternative to RSA, Elliptic Curve  Cryptography (ECC)
     algorithm.
   The full REGISTERED version uses a 464-bit encryption key, which is
     equivalent to using a 3000-bit key with RSA algorithm. It would take
     approximately 2^200 MIPS (Million of Instructions Per Second) YEARS
     to break a message encrypted with such a long key!   

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What is ICQ?
   ICQ is a revolutionary, user-friendly Internet tool that informs you
     who's on-line at any time and enables you to contact them at will.
     No longer will you search in vain for friends or associates on the Net.
     ICQ does the searching for you, alerting you in real time when they log on.
     The need to conduct a directory search each time you want to communicate
     with a specific person is eliminated.
     ICQ are trademark of ICQ Inc.

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Why Register?
   This UNREGISTERED TRIAL version of TSM for ICQ has numerous limitations,
     some of each include:
	- Extremely Weak Encryption (uses only an 8-bit key).  We also provide
           DecryptIt, a free educational program that decrypts messages
           encrypted with this trial version.  It would take billions of
           years to decrypt the messages encrypted with the 464-bit key,
           used in the REGISTERED version.

	- No Decryption of Message History.  Without this feature, the
          unregistered users will be unable to decrypt messages that
          they have already received.  They will only be able to decrypt
          them only once (when they receive them).  With the REGISTERED
          version, they will be able to decrypt any messages at any time.

	- No Automatic Encryption/Decryption Support. With this feature,
          messages can be encrypted as soon as you click on the Send
          button - no need for extra mouse-clicking to hit the Encrypt
          button and select the key)
        
	- No Clipboard Encryption/Decryption Support.

	- Lots of annoying reminders to register
	
   The REGISTERED version on the other hand has none of the limitations
     mentioned above, plus it features completely secure 464-bit encryption
     key (equivalent to a 3000-bit key with RSA algorithm) that would take
     approximately 2^200 MIPS years to break.

   As a registered user, you are also entitled to version upgrades that will
   be emailed to you upon request FREE of charge or shipped (if you choose to
   pay $10 US for shipping), as well as FREE technical support.
   
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Installation and Usage:  

	1. Double-click on the Top Secret Messenger for ICQ shortcut located
           on the desktop.
           
	3. Top Secret Messenger will then ask to generate the public/secret
           key pair and prompt to save the PUBLIC.TSM and SECRET.TSM files
           to a directory of your choice.
           NOTE: BACKUP these 2 files in case you are going lose them in the
                 future!
           
	4. Double-click on the TSM icon in the System Tray (key icon in the
           bottom right area of your screen) and select the Public Key Manager
           tab.

	5. Find and select your public key and click the EXPORT button.  TSM
           will prompt you for the filename to save the exported key as.  After
           you save it, you can now send this public key to all of your friends
           and colleagues that you want to have secure encrypted
           conversations with.
           NOTE: DO NOT make a mistake of sending the PUBLIC.TSM file, instead
                 of the just exported file, as it contains ALL the public keys
                 that you currently have (besides your own).
           
	6. Get the public keys of your friends and use the IMPORT button
           in Public Key Manager to import these keys.
           
	7. Once you have exchanged your public keys, you can start sending
           encrypted messages.  Simply double-click on the person that you
           want to send a message to in ICQ's contact list window and
           type in your message.  Then click on the ENCRYPT button and
           select the public key of the user that you want to send a message
           to.
           NOTE: Make SURE you do not select the "... - Owner" public key,
                 as it will encrypt the message with your own public key
                 and, consequently, no one else will be able to read it.
                 You can use this key if you want to send secure messages
                 to yourself, though (for instance, if you have multiple
                 ICQ accounts)
           
	8. When receiving an encrypted message, click on the DECRYPT button
           and select the public key of the person who just sent you that
           message.
        
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Future Plans:
  We are currently working on adding the following features to TSM:
	- Support for File Encryption/Signature Verification
          (registered version)

        - Add support for other ICQ versions / platforms (as well as integrate
	  it more closely with other types of programs such as email
          applications) 

NOTE: We do NOT provide any guarantees whatsoever that any of the above
      mentioned features are going to be present in the future releases.
        
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Updates:
  You can go to http://www.encrsoft.com/ to retrieve the latest
    updates for all of our products.

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Bug reporting:
  To report bugs, please send us a detailed message describing your problem
    and your system (be sure to include the Operating System, Processor,
    Amount of Memory, ICQ version, and TSM version) to bugs@encrsoft.com