"George X. Stacey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > By the way, what is SSH exactly? There was much talk of it on the list > earlier this week, but in my retro-focus, I've not heard of it before.
SSH is a replacement for telnet. The big problem with telnet is that everything is sent as plain text, hence is easily readable by undesirables. This may be of concern if you are accessing personal or restricted information, but it is a bigger problem when you are entering passwords. Since passwords are sent as plain text, those undesirables can intercept it then use it to access your account. Why was there a glaring security hole? Because it didn't matter when the internet was created. You would have to be fairly knowledgable about TCP/IP in order to access the data going between separate computers, and there were fewer undesirables. Nowdays anybody can download a packet sniffer to see the data going between computers, and every crook and their pitbull has internet access. :-( (It actually isn't as bad as I make it sound since the data would have to pass through the undesirable's computer in order to be read. But that does happen from time to time.) Byron. -- System6 is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... 123Inkjets.com <http://lowendmac.com/ad/123inkjets.html> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> System 6 Heaven <http://www.euronet.nl/users/mvdk/system_6_heaven.html> System6 info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/system6.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/system6%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
