[LUAU] Does this shock you?

Maddog maddog at heavymetalradio.net
Thu Jul 8 09:02:16 PDT 2004


Scott,

While I see your determinatin to remove the "Bad" element from the BGCH I
have to agree with Tim. Most of the programs you have posted there are
Windows system programs. If you google those programs you will plainly see
on the first hit that this is so.

I also understand your passion to replace the Windows desktops with Linux,
but, you have to be careful for you culd receive the same "bad" label as the
board member that is enhancing his pocketbook.

Objectivity is the key here. Maybe a solution is to put one or two Linux
clients in the downstairs lab and see if they get used. The biggest problem
I have with Linux, and this is from my personal experience, is that I cannot
get all the games at pbskids.org to work on my Linux box, the very same
games that do work on the windows computer next to it. This is really
frustrating because I have 2 kids wanting to play the same games and it has
left a bad taste for "the other computer" in the mouths of my kids.

If you approach this from the standpoint of a side by side comparrison for
maybe 6 months? you may win over the management and the children. One
question, what happens when you are not there to keep the Linux computers up
to date? Do they fall into disrepair too?

Don
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Newsham" <newsham at lava.net>
To: "Linux/Unix Advocates/Users Hawaiian community discussion list"
<luau at lists.hosef.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 11:43 PM
Subject: Re: [LUAU] Does this shock you?


> > regsvc.exe
> >
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/backdoor.irc.cloner.html
> >
> > lsass.exe
> >
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sasser.b.worm.html
> >
> > csrss.exe
> >
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.dalbug.worm.html
> >
> > smss.exe
> >
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.dalbug.worm.html
>
> the URL descriptions dont match these programs.  They're standard
> windows services (registry, security subsystem, win32 subsystem,
> session manager).
>
> > If you are still wondering if Linux can replace Windows on the Desktop,
> > I can assure that it can, it has, it does, and in cases like this, it
> > must.  I'll be documenting this in a case study, but for now I had to
> > share this horror with someone else.
>
> I agree that linux can be an effective desktop in school settings.
> I'm not sure I buy your argument though that virus infection is
> a good reason to run linux.  From a pragmatic point of view it
> is true -- viruses tend to target win32, and running something
> other than win32 will reduce your exposure there.  From a technical
> point of view though, there is no inherent technical advantage
> here.
>
> Linux systems do have flaws as well, and they may well be
> exploited to your detriment, although most likely not by
> a virus or worm.  If the system is operated properly, most
> users will be using low-privilege accounts and the entire
> system wont be at risk.  The same holds true for win32.  If
> they run windows xp, 2000 or 2k3 and disallow the average
> user from logging in as the administrator, the system will
> be much less vulnerable and more manageable.
>
> > --scott
>
> Tim N.
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