Let's quote the author directly, OK? I'm going to quote the whole second section since context is important:
"2. Data Left Behind "Because mainframes were once typically set-up-and-forget systems, they often contain sensitive data files that should have been deleted after the deployment phase ended. Certain data should not be written to a space that just any user can access. "We had one mainframe hacker who logged into the mainframe as an unprivileged user and immediately saw a highly sensitive file that contained information she could have used to compromise high-privileged users in the company’s environment. Files, such as lists of usernames and passwords and confidential client information, should not remain on the mainframe, where they are exposed to any type of user who gains physical or remote access." I don't think this is a particularly well written (or well edited? editors can sometimes do damage) piece of text -- let me just say that up front. However, in context, it's not awful. Let's work through this together.... "Because mainframes were once typically set-up-and-forget systems...." That's not the first description that comes to mind of classic mainframes running MVS, for example. However, that is an excellent description of IBM AS/400s, and I have seen more than a few references to AS/400s (and IBM i machines) as "mainframes." That said, the first sentence is my least favorite. Sentence #2 in this section is quite important for context. "Files, such as lists of usernames and passwords and confidential client information, should not remain on the mainframe, where they are exposed to any type of user who gains physical or remote access." I don't think we should automatically blame the author for a stray comma. Let me oh-so-slightly adjust this sentence, and I'm going to add three words just to emphasize the problem with that comma: "Files, such as lists of usernames and passwords and confidential client information, should not remain on the mainframe or anywhere else where they are exposed to any type of user who gains physical or remote access." It's a very, very reasonable interpretation in context that that's what the author meant, but the comma, in particular, wasn't at all helpful. No, that comma certainly shouldn't be there, but it's a comma, and editors (and sometimes authors) unfortunately make punctuation mistakes. Has anyone who doesn't like this article bothered to contact the author, or at least try, to suggest improvements? If not, why not? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timothy Sipples IT Architect Executive, Industry Solutions, IBM Z & LinuxONE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
