[ale] Linux Distributions

[ChangingLINKS.com]

On Wednesday May 18 2005 15:04, you wrote:
> > And yet, ironically your entire position seems centered on security.
>
> You're damn right my entire position is centered on security.  

Yes. and that is ironic.

> The more 
> software you're running, the more lines of code there are to fail.  The
> more that there is to fail, the higher the likelihood that something
> along the way *will* fail. 

I agree completely here.

> My system doesn't require several additional bloatware security features
> because they're all implemented in the kernel and trusted programs. 

Mine does not either. However, in this case I like to be "redundant" with 
security, data recovery and data security. That's just my way - so I can 
protect my system from myself and users who don't care about the inner 
workings of Linux.

>  My
> systems experience their share of regular attacks from others on the
> Internet, and it has yet to be compromised. 

Everybody else (but you) says "you never really know when you have been 
compromised." Hmmmm. The irony abounds.

> So, if my solutions are so "insecure," as you have put it, 
I mention the system is insecure because your system doesn't seem to be able 
to pass the same challenge that I put forth for my system. To me "security" 
is not simply viewed as something to ward off hackers - it is also to protect 
the computer from the user. 

Post your root pass, IP address and drop your firewall, or are you too 
insecure to do that? (woot! woot! a pun, giggle)

> since you'd 
> like to resort to a personal attack 

I didn't mean to attack you personally, like calling you stupid. Besides, your 
computer system is not YOU. Do you think so? What are you thinking? I 
apologize for the personal attack that was observed - it was not intentional.

> (seemingly because you can't prove 
> your point any other way),

I don't want to TALK about it - I said that from the beginning. 
I want to BE about it. My attempt to prove my point was to offer a challenge 
that I felt was the ultimate test. Bickering with you is just entertainment - 
even if I were able to debate well enough online to impress the MASSES, you 
would turn around, ignore my words and call me a "mass debater."

> You, sir, have no validity to your arguments that I can find.  Nor do
> your arguments deserve any respect whatsoever.

I can agree with that, I don't think I have put for a good argument. 
Just a challenge - that I hoped would do the arguing for me.

> You can't even find a 
> segment of source code in a program you want to run in your "secure"
> configuration to modify it to not check to see if you're running as root
> or not!

You're probably right. Currently, I'm honestly having a difficult time 
understanding your sentence and how it is relevant to the rest of your post.



> You're the one who is adding additional software to it and the like.
> When I say Linux, I'm talking about the operating system.

You are arguing with yourself. 
You say OS - no supporting programs and then say:

> Fortunately,
> the kernel is more versatile then you have the imagination to cover.
> The associated tools that come with it, are what really give the
> flexibility and the power to do the things that you can with it.  

Either you are assuming how my system is setup again, or your statements 
conflict, or both. Perhaps you are upset. I gather that from your tone.


> It's a 
> wonderful system, and doesn't need the support of bloatware as you so
> desire to shame it down to.

What "bloatware" am I running, please?
More assumptions . . . I see. I have already admitted that I like to do some 
things redundantly, but I don't see that as "bloat" For example, I have 2 
browsers - but I have always needed two (for various reasons) and I use both 
on a daily basis. Is that what you mean by "bloat?"

> Unlike yourself, I use the system's built-in functionality to prevent
> the problems which you mention.  It sounds to me like my system is the
> winner, in the long run. 

That's nice. Replace my box in the challenge then. Let's use your box.
-- 
Wishing you Happiness, Joy, and Laughter,
Drew Brown
http://www.ChangingLINKS.com