On Thu, 26 Apr 2001, Greg Kettmann wrote:
> Wow :-)
We don't hold back much, here. :-)
> Then, hopefully, this will settle down and everyone can get back to what
> they normally do.
This *is* what we normally do! ;-)
> 1) You've said "Linux isn't for 'amateur's'".
I disagree strongly with this. Linux is not for everybody, but these days
it can certainly offer quite a bit to quite a few people.
I might agree with "computers aren't for amateurs" or "the Internet isn't
for amateurs". Unfortunately, we have lots of amateurs using both, so I think
we are stuck with that.
> The current thinking has a lot to do with the "user" keeping their system
> secure.
The administrator of a system is the only person who is able to keep it
secure. If the administrator is also the user (i.e., a personal system), then
it falls to them to keep it secure.
To beat the dead horse even more: If you buy a car, it is your job to lock
the doors, change the oil, and fill the gas.
> The good news is that RH 7.1 has apparently taken steps, in 7.1, to
> correct this, so there is hope that it will ultimately be corrected or at
> least mitigated by the "distributions".
I think "mitigated" is more correct. "Assisted" might be best. Again,
ultimately, only the administrator/owner/user of a computer can secure it. A
software vendor can offer interactive tools, online help and warnings,
pre-configured firewalls and jails, and so on, but in the end, the person in
the driver's seat has to make the decisions on which way to go (so to speak).
> The company I work for, and my job, have very close relations to 4 major
> RH distributors and I'll take this subject up with them and see if I can
> influence or accelerate the process of tightening the security for RH.
Good idea.
> 2) In my defense. They stole my car. The evidence pointed to a bunch of
> punks without much savy. I locked the car very tightly, rolling up all
> windows and removing the key.
Except you *didn't*. Try this on for size:
You rented a car. You parked the car in a bad neighborhood with the keys
in the ignition, the doors unlocked, and the windows down. Someone stole the
car for a joyride. The rental car company found the car, brought it back to
your parking spot, and told you to lock it up better. You rolled the driver's
side window up but left the rest unchanged because you were "too busy". The
car was stolen again. This time, the rental company is keeping their car.
The fact that this was the only Ferrari rental company in your area is your
tough luck. If you really wanted to drive a Ferrari that badly, you should
have taken better care of it.
> By definition the Internet is a community. It's sort of viewer supported.
The Internet is a collection of publicly connected networks. The networks
include corporate networks (both subscriber and carrier), institutions
(schools, government facilities, etc.), and private systems (home PCs and
networks). There is no center to it. Everything is independent.
When you go to Media One, you are paying them for the privilege to connect
to their corporate network. They have the right to terminate that privilege
as they see fit.
They also happen to be a fairly unregulated monopoly. I dislike that. You
dislike that. I suspect most everyone except AT&T dislikes it. But that is a
political problem, and not one for this list.
> But no one really patrols it (emphasis on one).
No one patrols your home, either.
> MediaOne / AT&T is far less a "toll booth" as described and more the
> highway system of an entire state.
See "political problem", above.
> The only people who can truly provide the required "policing" are the
> service providers.
No one can control a collection of interconnected networks like the
Internet. If you dislike that, *do not connect to it*.
> The fact in the matter in this whole thing is the only person unaffected
> is the cracker.
And ain't that a crying shame. But it doesn't put Media One at fault.
#ifdef THICK_SKIN
No offense, but I am starting to lose my sympathy for you. Your ultimate
goal appears to be to have someone declare, "You're right, Greg. It isn't
your fault. Media One should be protecting your personal information
security."
I am afraid it is your fault, and that ultimately, you are the only one
responsible for your own protection. You may not like that, but that is the
way the world works. Life is hard. Deal with it.
If you want my, or anyone else's help, with installing Linux, configuring
Linux, protecting Linux, or monitoring Linux, feel free to ask here. If you
want help in campaigning to have Media One's monopoly removed or restricted,
find an appropriate forum -- this isn't it. If you want a shoulder to cry on,
try your SO or the local bar.
#endif
--
Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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