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 (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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