This is a message which appeared on the aussie-isp mailing list earlier
today. I thought people here might like it :-) Ross is a reliable source,
so I doubt we can chalk this one up to "urban legend".
- mark
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 15:45:51 +1000 (EST)
> From: Ross Wheeler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [Oz-ISP] FreeBSD and the forces of darkness. Real religious wars!
>
>
> I've got to tell someone about this.... I'm flabergasted!
>
> A client of a client had their internet gateway machine (a Linux box)
> hacked recently, and seriously compromised. Ok... totally screwed.
>
> So, much panic, waving of arms and gnashing of teeth, and it was a case of
> "drop everything and help" this poor school. The person who set up the
> original box is on the other side of the continent and seems to be not
> contactable, or something.
>
> Anyhow, we helped. KNOWING the box had been hacked and WOULD be under
> constant scrutiny, we suggested FreeBSD (now before we start any religious
> wars here, yes, a linux box MAY be as secure as a FreeBSD box, assuming
> both were set up by people familiar and competent with them both.... but
> we're a FreeBSD site and not expert with Linux! Plus, it was compromised
> as a Linux box, much better to change things a little while we're at it).
>
> So the box was completely re-built. They moved the goalposts a couple of
> times (changing how things needed to be set up AFTER it had been done, but
> hey...). and now that it's all going and working..... they want to rip it
> out and put linux back on again.
>
> Why?
>
>
>
>
> Well.... I could start a guessing competition here.
>
> And you guys (and girls) are NOT allowed to kill yourselves laughing
> here... This is what the person actually typed:
>
>
> "I've just had a converstaion with xxxx xxxx (our Principal) about some
> of the changes. We've had to deal with some of the philosphical issues
> related to BSD. As you know BSD uses a 'devil' icon to portray the BSD
> symbol. Given we are a Christian school this is a significant concern for
> us. Even after reviewing the sites blurb about the origin of the symbol,
> we've come to the conclusion that it would not be appropriate for us to
> use the software."
>
> Can you believe it?!
>
> I tried to "inform" them about the "mascot"....
>
> "some of our parents who are very technically savvy would not care about
> the disctinction. It is the subliminal message the icon represents..."
>
> And then the FreeBSD site itself fueled the fire:
>
> "Even the site talks about a deamon being 'unleashed' in you computer blah."
>
> So that's that. No further discussion would be entered into. They've made
> their decision..... with a parting shot that:
>
> "what we need to concern ourselves with as a Christian school is the
> 'message' or 'image' that may unwittingly be portrayd."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I tried an internal modem, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
but it hurt when I walked. Mark Newton
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