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The Next 50 Years of Computer Security

Posted by Zonk on from the i'll-be-grey-haired-and-senile dept.

wbglinks writes "An informative interview with Linux guru Alan Cox, with an emphasis on Linux and security. Alan will be the keynote speaker at EuroOSCON this October." From the article: "It is beginning to improve, but at the moment computer security is rather basic and mostly reactive. Systems fail absolutely rather than degrade. We are still in a world where an attack like the slammer worm combined with a PC BIOS eraser or disk locking tool could wipe out half the PCs exposed to the internet in a few hours. In a sense we are fortunate that most attackers want to control and use systems they attack rather than destroy them."

5 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Sounds like an idea... by highcon · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    "We are still in a world where an attack like the slammer worm combined with a PC BIOS eraser or disk locking tool could wipe out half the PCs exposed to the internet in a few hours. In a sense we are fortunate that most attackers want to control and use systems they attack rather than destroy them."

    Bet that would get people switching in droves to "alternative" operating systems which were immune to the attack.

    --
    You can either complain, or do nothing. You don't get both.
  2. Re:Sleeping....? by dotgain · · Score: 1, Flamebait
    And once you let someone compromise your system, you'll never be able to fully trust it again. It's about the stupidest idea yet in computer security. The only reason it wasn't on that list of "top six stupid things" the other day is because it's not an adopted practice, and isn't taken seriously.

    And since TripMasterMonkey is an incessant troll, please, don't be gentle.

  3. Re:The next step in security: benevolent parasites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I bow to Trip Master Monkey, the Master of the first post. When you stand up, I bow before you. My devotion to you is such oh master, that I would eat your dingleberries and floss with your ass hair.
    FUCK YOU to all who dare make fun of the master of the insightful fiirst post, Trip master monkey.

  4. Re:50 years, eh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Since you mentioned OpenBSD...

    Having a Linux kernel hacker discuss security is like having Rich Kotite discuss football strategy.

  5. mod5 doWn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Preferrably 3xith an