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<TITLE>RE: [NTLUG:Discuss] Washington Post article</TITLE>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Well, okay ... point taken. :></FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">In reality, I am probably not quite as passionate about this subject as it may appear. I guess I was interpreting the aforementioned statement in the same light as you interpreted mine. I read the statement to mean "Well, Microsoft is more secure than open-source, and since there isn't a study disproving this, then that must be the way it is". Reading that, in conjunction with the Microsoft people talking about open-source software being inherently more insecure due to it's open-source nature... well, that just rang my bell a little too loudly. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">It was like they were insinuating that there is a subtle lack of integrity on the part of open-source writers, (Which I am defenitely NOT.) and that Microsoft code had more "integrity" behind it.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I know that Linux and all the other *nix operating systems are vulnerable as well. It just seems like Microsoft products have a disproportionate amount of holes in them that have to be filled, especially when one considers how long they have been releasing software. This opinion is just based on what I have read and heard.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I did not mean to speak out of turn. I am far from being an expert on these matters.</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Sorry for the venting. I will attempt to remain upright... I'm taking deep breaths...</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Monty</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">-----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">From: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Ward Networks [SMTP:Kevin@wardnetworks.com]</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Sent: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Thursday, May 23, 2002 5:05 PM</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">To: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">discuss@ntlug.org</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Subject: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">RE: [NTLUG:Discuss] Washington Post article</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman">Monty,</FONT>
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<BR><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman">A little balance here amigo...I can see that you are passionate with this subject but ALL code is equally vunerable, I have specific engineering applications published in 170 countries - there have been clever individuals from 5 continents whom I have worked with over the years that can penetrate just about any situation you can rig together with any OS. MS gets more attention because it is the prevelant system in place today...as Linux becomes more prevelant in the market place, you will see the same vunerability learning curve that MS has been consistantly dealing with as more people out there decide to hack the Linux system. The plus side of the situation is that many more people will be detecting and closing the loopholes on the Linux side but the professors statement is thouroughly correct, there is no silver bullet with Linux or any other system availbable today.</FONT></P>
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<BR><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman">My personal viewpoint is that the government should use Linux because I would like them to use less of my tax dollars but the issue is of little difference from a technical perspective.</FONT></P>
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<BR><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman">Kevin</FONT>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">-----Original Message-----<BR>
</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">From:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma"> discuss-admin@ntlug.org [<A HREF="mailto:discuss-admin@ntlug.org">mailto:discuss-admin@ntlug.org</A>]</FONT><B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">On Behalf Of</FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">MontyS@videopost.com<BR>
</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Sent:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma"> Thursday, May 23, 2002 4:37 PM<BR>
</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">To:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma"> discuss@ntlug.org<BR>
</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma">Subject:</FONT></B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Tahoma"> RE: [NTLUG:Discuss] Washington Post article</FONT>
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<BR><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Although the pushy nature of Microsoft, as displayed in this article, is very disturbing, what disturbes me more is the following statement:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">"I have never seen a systematic study that showed open source to be more secure." WHAT? This is coming from a professor of</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">computer science at Georgetown University? Apparently, she has spent too much time in front of the lecturn, and too little time in front</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">of the computer screen!!!</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I guess that is just her opinion...</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">And she is actually teaching computer science courses?! Hopefully nothing above Computer Security 101.</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Monty</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">-----Original Message-----</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><BR>
</FONT><B></B><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">From: </FONT></B><FONT FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Stephen Davidson [SMTP:gorky@freenet.carleton.ca]</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><BR>
</FONT><B></B><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Sent: </FONT></B><FONT FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Thursday, May 23, 2002 3:14 PM</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><BR>
</FONT><B></B><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">To: </FONT></B><FONT FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">NTLUG</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"><BR>
</FONT><B></B><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Subject: </FONT></B><FONT FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">[NTLUG:Discuss] Washington Post article</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Seems the Pentagon can no longer purchase open source software. Oh wait, its free....</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">-Steve</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
<BR><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"><<A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60050-2002May22.html" TARGET="_blank">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60050-2002May22.html</A>></FONT></U><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT>
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