Installing a compiler by default

[Lee Revell]

On Thu, 2006-06-15 at 13:27 -0400, Shawn McMahon wrote:
> On Thu, Jun 15, 2006 at 11:40:27AM -0400, Lee Revell said:
> > 
> > But if your target is Ubuntu it will be trivial to work around the lack
> > of a compiler.  You're root - you can just upload one or even apt-get
> 
> Your target is usually "several million Linux boxes", not "this
> particular Ubuntu box".  You're right that lack of a compiler is very
> little defense against some guy trying to break into your box; but it's
> of more use against some guy trying to break into all of them.
> 
> > install it.  All this does is give a false sense of security.  It's the
> > computer security equivalent of the Maginot Line.
> 
> You don't know how right you are.  The Maginot Line was very effective
> at what it was intended to do, and was designed as part of a larger
> overall defense plan.  However, some in the government who didn't know
> squat about strategy felt that it was sufficient defense in and of
> itself, and so didn't make sufficient other preparations.  You've
> inadvertantly created an apt analogy that illustrates why you're wrong.
> 
> BTW, the Germans didn't attack the Maginot Line; it remained secure
> until France surrendered.  The Germans also used it, and it complicated
> the Allies' battle strategy just as it did that of the Germans.
> 

Yes, I'm aware of all this.  I still think the analogy supports my
position.

Lee