While I mostly agree with you, couldn't it be argued that, when a system is open source, doesn't that mean that IF there is something to be exploited, someone will find it by reading the source code? Sure, it works both ways; someone with 'good' intentions can notify the devs if they found a possible exploit, but someone with 'bad' intentions could exploit it for his own use. When the source isn't freely available, people will only be able to guess how to crack it. I believe this was a mayor reason why half-life 2 was postponed for so long after (part of?) the source was leaked; they were afraid people would use the source to create hacks.
I'm not saying I don't agree with you, and I certainly see how an open system can add to its quality, but isn't a completely open source system inherently insecure, because people can read the source and figure out ways to crack it?
Thunderbird 1.0.2 has been out for a while now, but the only language its currently available in, is English. Firefox 1.0.2 has allready been translated to most languages, but i'm still waiting for the new dutch Thunderbird:-(
see for yourselves:
Thunderbird languages page.
and
Firefox languages page.
I think our best hope is to send Von Neumann probes in a couple of directions; 'smart', self-replicating machines that, upon arival and after 'reproduction' using native resources, establish themselves on the moons of the various planets of the systems, sending out signal pulses and waiting to be discovered by a native species. (like the monoliths in 2001: A Space Odyssey)
Until we're able to create such machines, though, I guess we'll just have to broadcast stuff and hope someone cares and can make sense of it all.
Slashdot Mirror
While I mostly agree with you, couldn't it be argued that, when a system is open source, doesn't that mean that IF there is something to be exploited, someone will find it by reading the source code?
Sure, it works both ways; someone with 'good' intentions can notify the devs if they found a possible exploit, but someone with 'bad' intentions could exploit it for his own use. When the source isn't freely available, people will only be able to guess how to crack it.
I believe this was a mayor reason why half-life 2 was postponed for so long after (part of?) the source was leaked; they were afraid people would use the source to create hacks.
I'm not saying I don't agree with you, and I certainly see how an open system can add to its quality, but isn't a completely open source system inherently insecure, because people can read the source and figure out ways to crack it?
(no flame please, i'm probably just ignorant)
Thunderbird 1.0.2 has been out for a while now, but the only language its currently available in, is English. Firefox 1.0.2 has allready been translated to most languages, but i'm still waiting for the new dutch Thunderbird :-(
see for yourselves:
Thunderbird languages page.
and
Firefox languages page.
The Gimp lets you create .ico files just fine. I use the Windows version of The GIMP whenever I really need to build icons for Windows.
I think our best hope is to send Von Neumann probes in a couple of directions; 'smart', self-replicating machines that, upon arival and after 'reproduction' using native resources, establish themselves on the moons of the various planets of the systems, sending out signal pulses and waiting to be discovered by a native species. (like the monoliths in 2001: A Space Odyssey)
Until we're able to create such machines, though, I guess we'll just have to broadcast stuff and hope someone cares and can make sense of it all.