> Paul, your tone is super aggressive, or so it looks like in
> written form.

I'm sorry, Emanuele, that isn't my intent.  I'm just very, very
frustrated.  I do like to run a secure, hardened, but still usable
system.  It's not my habit to put things out that invite mischief.

All the responses have been dismissive "don't worry about it".  The
direct question I asked, "Does anyone know of a legitimate reason a user
would need to do this, e.g. like having a private key ring," has never
been addressed.

> The point is, if the certificates used by the browser are in a read-
> only location, then the script is harmless, and if the browser can

For the record: I get all that!  I completely understand.  OK?  I don't
need to be told, again.  It only adds to the frustration.

But let me point out an assumption you're making: "if the certificates
used by the browser are in a read-only location".  What's the "if not",
"otherwise", part of it?  In fact, are those the ONLY certificates a
browser/email client would use?  What if the user had his/her own
"certificates"?  I don't know for sure.  I don't think I want a user to
have any certificates--if they might be used they're dangerous, if
they'd never be used, there's no reason to have them.

> install a new certificate in a writable location, then the script is
> irrelevant. Am I missing something? (My knowledge on this topic is
> almost zero.)

It appears to me these scripts could be used to create CA
Certificates, (and who knows how trustworthy those might be) in a
user's ~/.ssl where perhaps openssl and/or a browser would accept
them, quite possibly ushering malware onto the system--that quess who
will have to clean up if I can.

Is that impossible?  I don't know, is it?  If so, why is this such a big
issue as I read about just today.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2901812/microsoft-blacklists-latest-rogue-ssl-certificates-mozilla-mulls-sanctions-for-issuer.html#tk.rss_all

I guess I need to go get new certificates now.
-- 
Paul Rogers
[email protected]
Rogers' Second Law: "Everything you do communicates."
(I do not personally endorse any additions after this line. TANSTAAFL :-)

        

-- 
http://www.fastmail.com - Access all of your messages and folders
                          wherever you are

-- 
http://lists.linuxfromscratch.org/listinfo/blfs-support
FAQ: http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/faq.html
Unsubscribe: See the above information page

Reply via email to