TCP flaw threatens Net data transmissions

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SSafer or more prone: Both, but ultimately safer

Consider what we're talking about, here: A flaw in the infrastructure. Especially as the real nature of that infrastructure becomes clear (as a massive, distributed computing device in its own right), it's inevitable that clever folks will start to examine its innards.

Even if we could block those innards from examination, to say that we should do so is tantamount to saying that we should halt biomedical research because it could be used to create toxins and designer plagues.

So in short, our answer *must* be that it makes us safer. If that's not our answer here, then we have to question that same answer as applied to physics, chemistry, biology -- science and technology in general.

If the source is barred from view, then when someone inevitably finds the exploit, and then DOESN'T TELL ANYONE ABOUT IT (just *uses* it), we have essentially no recourse.

We might not even know what was happening. Much like smallpox-stricken denizens of the post-contact New World, we might think that the gods had decided to smite us for some as yet unknown past infraction....

What's sensible is a middle-ground, where responsible people -- like Paul Watson -- find the problem, validate it, and discuss it with the relevant players over a period of months, before making it generally visible to the public.

Posted by: escoles@...   Posted on: 04/21/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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