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My understanding is that developers of all encryption software sold in the USA are currently required by law to submit a key to a Government agency (I'm not sure which one...perhaps the NSA?), and this may also be the case for firewalls.

That's about what Al Gore wanted, but he didn't get his wish. I don't believe this is the case now. And it's pretty much impossible if you use popular open source encryption and firewall software.

>> My understanding is that developers of all encryption software sold in the USA are currently required by law to submit a key to a Government agency (I'm not sure which one...perhaps the NSA?), and this may also be the case for firewalls.

I don't think so. I'm sure that's not the case with PGP.

> That's about what Al Gore wanted, but he didn't get his wish. I don't believe this is the case now. And it's pretty much impossible if you use popular open source encryption and firewall software.

I think Joe Biden was in on that failed requirement also. Allegedly, Phill Zimmerman (author of PGP) made his code public specifically because of a bill Biden introduced, back in the early 90's.

I use PGP for encryption -- free, easy, open-source, and about as uncrackable as anything out there. If you pick a long enough key length you're good for years, maybe decades.