[huskerlug] Re: [huskerlug] The Emperor is butt naked. And the majority of the people can ât see it.
- From: Luke Wilson <lwilson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: huskerlug@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 21:40:18 -0500
I'm afraid I have to disagree with most of that. While open-source
software is generally more secure than closed-source, there is no such
thing as a completely secure system. I have no idea where the writer is
getting that idea.
While I'm usually not "stupid" enough to fall for a phishing scam or
trojan-horse-type attack, many users out there are. Can you honestly
believe that every single computer user, even those who don't know the
difference between a link on their desktop and an installed program, has
the discernment to see through one of those fake PayPal e-mails, for
example? Some of those are so well done that you just about have to
hover over the link "to the PayPal site" and look at the URL it points
to in order to tell it's fake. I even fell for one of those once
(fortunately, it was an old one and the page it pointed to didn't exist
anymore).
Given that, bugs in software are definitely not the only way for malware
to enter your system. Closed-source vendors do use it as a copout, but
that doesn't change the fact that you can't protect users from
themselves (and still deliver software that actually lets you do anything).
GreyGeek wrote:
>http://rudd-o.com/archives/2006/06/27/closed-source-and-the-naked-emperor/
>
>Excerpt from the article:
>
>Recently, a Microsoft security official said phishing is a problem because=
>=20
>there=E2=80=99s no patch for human stupidity. Which, in other words, is the=
> exact=20
>equivalent of saying that people=E2=80=99s computers get infected by malwar=
>e because=20
>they=E2=80=99re stupid.
>
>Are users really stupid?
>
>Are you, Mr. Reader, stupid enough to fall for a phishing scam? Are you, Mr=
>=2E=20
>Reader, stupid enough to install a virus on your computer? Are you, Mr.=20
>Reader, stupid enough to be aware that the latest screen saver you download=
>ed=20
>contains spyware?
>
>I bet you=E2=80=99re not.
>
>=2E....
>
>This is the truth. Malware gets into your computer when your computer softw=
>are=20
>has bugs. No bugs, no malicious activity.
>In a way, viruses are a problem of the past=E2=80=A6 and not because of ant=
>ivirus=20
>software!
>In other words: with a properly built, bug-free computer system, no virus=20
>attack is possible, or (as is the case with Microsoft Windows) able to=20
>obliterate your computer and your information. Attaining bug-free computer=
>=20
>programs is very hard (some would argue it=E2=80=99s undoable). But buildin=
>g=20
>completely secure systems is possible. It=E2=80=99s so possible that they h=
>ave=20
>already been built.
>This is not just my =E2=80=9Copinion=E2=80=9D or =E2=80=9Ceducated guess=E2=
>=80=9D. This is something real,=20
>derived directly from cutting-edge science and engineering.
>And here=E2=80=99s another textbook fact: malware (malicious software) is s=
>preading=20
>because of the poor quality and the irresponsible attitudes of Closed Sourc=
>e=20
>software houses (with their flagship operating system, Microsoft Windows).
>The Emperor is naked. Why doesn=E2=80=99t anybody notice it?
>
>
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