On Fri, 20 Jun 2003 19:21:29 -0400 Thomas Williams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> uttered:
> I agree to a point. Yes, its not as vulnerable and it is probably safe > and its been gone over well before its been put into production, but > holes do happen even with the best of programmers and the best of > software. I'm not saying that Closed source is better, only that why > give a group or a nut, as the case may be, a leg up by showing them > how it all works. At least with closed software they have to discover > that on their own. Not difficult. Anyone with the knowledge to hack will have the knowledge to take apart any software, closed or open. If someone *really* wants in, they'll get in, there's nothing you or I or anyone can do about it. But closed source is worse in this case, since we may not even be aware that they *are* in until the software vendor decides to let us know about it. Remember, they have an interest in their software appearing to be secure as much as they do in it actually being secure, whereas open source has no such conflict of interest. > All I'm saying is that I happen to agree that there are instances > where perhaps the GPL is not necessary. As someone else has already > pointed out, the GPL is perhaps overly complicated and that in and of > its self could perhaps be enough to suggest the government steer clear > of it. How do you go about suing the government over their violation > of the GPL? Yes, it can be done, but in some instances at what cost? Of course the GPL is not the "be all and end all". Nothing is. But it is a model for a new way of looking at software as a public resource rather than a commodity to be bought and sold. If information is allowed to become a commodity in the truest sense of the word, then the internet and information technology will become nothing more than better TV sets with more invasive marketing and egregious manipulation. -- + Joe Hill + Registered Linux user #282046 + Homepage: http://nodex.sytes.net + ICQ# 279518458 + Do what thou wilt, this shall be the + whole of the law.
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