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Scanner Spots Open Source Installations

Posted by kdawson on from the toward-what-end dept.

Mike writes "Information security firm OpenLogic has begun letting users download 'Discovery,' an application that scans Windows, Linux, and Solaris machines and attempts to identify open source software. The Discovery application claims to identify more than 5,000 versions of the top 900 open source packages. The scanning engine is able to detect open source installations whether they were installed explicitly or bundled with other software products. Kim Weins, vice president of marketing, says 'We developed it in response to customers not knowing what open source programs they were using.' I can't help but think that this a move to slyly demonize FOSS by scaring businesses into thinking they don't know what's on their PCs."

10 of 275 comments (clear)

  1. Doh by nokilli · · Score: 5, Funny

    You know, given the Vista experience, we're getting to the point where you know there's open source software afoot if the scanner simply runs without crashing something.

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    1. Re:Doh by Artifakt · · Score: 2, Funny

      So in effect, you're saying it's just that 80% minority of Vista licences that give the other 20% majority a bad name? :-)

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      Who is John Cabal?
    2. Re:Doh by Hijacked+Public · · Score: 2, Funny

      I agree with you 100%.

      Why anyone would bother to specify the Basic version when they could, with less effort, impugn the entire suite of versions, is beyond me.

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      "Sacrifice for the good of The State" - The State
  2. Crickey by also-rr · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have 12,000 violations on my laptop. I better make out a check to the EFF before the bang the door down... what's the annual licensing fee on GPL software again?

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    Think of the Children; Sleep with your Sister
    1. Re:Crickey by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      C'mon, Darl, 'fess up, we know that's you, you cheeky scamp..

  3. the irony ... by petes_PoV · · Score: 2, Funny
    so you can download a package that tells you what packages you've downloaded.

    I wonder if it detects itself?

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    politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
  4. Re:Free download but a form to fill prior download by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sure, but the PHBs have heard Steve Balmer calling OSS/GPL "a cancer". Imagine the BSA kicking down your door and busting you for all those illegal copies of Firefox.

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    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  5. It *scans* *Linux* for open source software? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    From TFS: "an application that scans Windows, Linux, and Solaris machines and attempts to identify open source software."

    What will they think of next? Panning for dirt? Yes, I think you might find just a teensy bit of open source software on the average Linux install. Now what?

  6. VRMS would not approve. by croddy · · Score: 2, Funny

    croddy@localhost $ vrms
                   Non-free packages installed on localhost

    doom2-wad                 IWAD from ID Software's DOOM 2 computer game
    iozone3                   Filesystem and Disk Benchmarking Tool
    nvidia-glx                NVIDIA binary Xorg driver
      Reason: Proprietary license
    nvidia-glx-dev            NVIDIA binary Xorg driver development files
      Reason: Proprietary license
    openlogic-discovery       Tool for locating installed open-source software packages
      Reason: Who needs this - when you've got me?

      5 non-free packages, 0.3% of 1519 installed packages

  7. Re:Inventorying OSS can help OSS by Fastolfe · · Score: 2, Funny

    I wonder what businesses would say if you actually put something like that on your resume:

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