More flaws foul security of open-source repository

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Do you even know what the term refers to?

Ok, let me explain it this way then. Have you seen any AMIGA or Commodore 64 viruses lately? Well, why not? I don't think they have new antivirus software or firewalls out on the market for them. Could it be, for some strange reason, that virus writers would be WASTING their time trying to write viruses for the 3 dozen remaining Commodore systems out there, that the chance of infected them -other than MAYBE the first one- is virtually NIL?

OK, that is what security by obscurity means. FEW systems to infect. FEW systems that are interconnected. Capiche? That and nothing else. Nothing about development systems, CVS's, finding flaws in OSS or proprietary anything (and BTW: Commodore was VERY proprietary).

Now I know what some of you IT mavons are going to say: BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE LINUX SERVERS? O, the one's being run by IT professionals, the one's behind firewalls, NAT systems, etc.? Let's compare apples to apples, and not confuse the virus headlines that refer to home PCs with the Linux server systems that you are invariably going to rave about. Linux folks always rave about how secure their systems are, but honestly, have linux PC's been tested the way MS systems have? MS systems have to contend with hundreds of new Viruses a Year, and how many have been written to attack Linux/Unix thus far? A few dozen? Check your virus definition files... look at the size of them... NOW do you get the term "security by obscurity"? Why would any self-respecting hacker write malicious code to attack 3% of the PC populace, when they can spend just as much time attacking the other 90+% of MS PCs?

Sorry for the lesson, just thought you should know before you start talking about it or rant about "intelligent key encryption" next...?!

Posted by: rock06r   Posted on: 06/10/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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