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[dcraven]

Peter Garrett Wrote: 
> On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 14:03:35 +0300

> Iosif Chatzimichail <afonic at altecnet.gr> wrote:

> 

> > john levin wrote:

> > 

> 

> > >

> > I don't think you understand. If tomorrow ALL windows users started 

> > using Linux in 6 months Linux would be FULL of viruses, spyware and 

> > security problems. 

> 

> I think this is one of the more common misconceptions. It would be
> *much* more difficult to have Linux machines infested with the problems
> you cite, because Linux is designed intelligently for networking from
> the ground up. 



This is also a bit of a misconseption in my opinion. Although you are
correct about the user vs. root access, when is the last time you (if
not you, then the guy beside you) hesitated to type in the root
password when prompted for it? Even seasoned users of FOSS have become
vulnerable to this because over the years, FOSS have gained a certain
degree of trust. You find a neato looking program that you want to
install, it's not in apt. You download the tarball, compile it and
"sudo make install". The damage has already potentially been done. I
admittedly don't scan the source of every package I install. Some may
avoid installing from source, and stick with the official repositories
that adhere to given standards and ensure (to some unstaked degree)
that malicious code is probably not present.



Now consider the unseasoned user being presented with the same prompt.
Past experience with other computing environments have certainly not
taught them anything. They'll provide the root password just as quickly
as you or I will.



I belong to the camp that is sitting on the fence. I love the idea that
Linux and some of the more popular distrobutions today are "for the
people". I love that everyone has access to a wide range of amazing
software for Free (both meanings of the term), and I strongly believe
that is how it should be. On the other hand, with the teams of users
that come to this side of the fence come all of the grief and
commercialism and stench that was one of the primary reasons for me
coming here in the first place several years ago. Call me elitist, but
I don't see it as that. I'd say the term 'selfish' is closer to the
truth. I love what FOSS is and what it stands for, and I want everyone
to benefit from it. But I also want them to stay away.



My final position on the matter is that I want FOSS to gain all of the
fame and fortune that it deserves, and as such I will do what I can to
get it into the hands of everyone. I can't shake the feeling that more
popularity will ruin it for me, but there will always be alternatives
for us selfish types :).



~djc


-- 
dcraven