From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Dec 10 15:04:16 2009 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 808C3106566C for ; Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:04:16 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from kevin.wilcox@gmail.com) Received: from mail-gx0-f214.google.com (mail-gx0-f214.google.com [209.85.217.214]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3A9BA8FC33 for ; Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:04:15 +0000 (UTC) Received: by gxk6 with SMTP id 6so6671736gxk.13 for ; Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:04:15 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:mime-version:received:in-reply-to:references :date:message-id:subject:from:to:cc:content-type :content-transfer-encoding; bh=1RoP9HaUsa0XwuLIT5TCY6JNfGHjZdH0hz88NJau7RE=; b=h2v68B3g5x9Y6XuvYqRMrGdzEeaXhx/uLtzSsl+K26VDVY1SiGgXt6bG7aLMe4bhc1 TBKwes+ZY/DanWftm7z3nhW6qh/I1TxNWVdvzTu/yxEPyH6J6yIS9SMRzrbEk3smQMxp /0/ZA3a+i/M5w2AKFjui81KtRQMXyyVOjW4qU= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :cc:content-type:content-transfer-encoding; b=h07JqkXAoK3aLLeZ1VSZQPpyUY1Zqv61501R0KBn0m47KhqL8DoV7VOIryKn29GUcg WX9bhTwiYK08TC5aiuF8gf/y2AVkbBsX6fRW9AGjNZUTLoV4qzB56oKRVWa6YoFLPfYI 9GNo5M3Do9NBtQCNtTbQGuz9pOXcN6CR8nzKc= MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.91.162.31 with SMTP id p31mr188117ago.121.1260457454934; Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:04:14 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: <20091210144141.GB834@mech-cluster241.men.bris.ac.uk> References: <20091210144141.GB834@mech-cluster241.men.bris.ac.uk> Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:04:14 -0500 Message-ID: <5d6848b00912100704t33828fc6x900f716ddd6af8d@mail.gmail.com> From: Kevin Wilcox To: Anton Shterenlikht Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Cc: freebsd-current@freebsd.org, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Root exploit for FreeBSD X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:04:16 -0000 2009/12/10 Anton Shterenlikht : > >From my information security manager: > > =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0FreeBSD isn't much used within the University = (I understand) and has a > =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0(comparatively) poor security record. Most rec= ently, for example: > > =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Roo= t-exploit-for-FreeBSD-873352.html Wow. Just...wow. FreeBSD's security record, the rate at which fixes occur, the ports system and the overall sanity of the environment is *precisely* why we have been migrating from RHEL to FreeBSD at my University (I'm employed by the University, not a student). I would be quite curious as to which operating system is serving as the baseline for this comparison. I would also be quite curious as to whether the manager making said statement is responsible for central IT services or is locked into providing services by a particular vendor. kmw --=20 Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so - Unattributed, post 9/11