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Pastimes : Internet Security/Privacy Issues and Solutions -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Math Junkie who wrote (152)	6/14/2001 11:49:51 PM
From: caly	Respond to of 210

Interesting. First of all, let me just say I have a TON of respect for Steve Gibson. I credit him with enabling ZoneLabs to make a solid personal firewall that's been made freely available to the masses. God only knows what that single product has done to thwart attacks worldwide. I think Steve's "Junior" story pretty much sums up the risk as I see it. Experienced hackers already have everything they need. XP will open the doors to everyone else. So who else might take advantage of it? Kids definitely. Internet vigilantes definitely. (Ever gotten such an offensive spam that you wish you knew how to take down their website?) The ordinary Joe/Jane? Nah. Bottom line, I think it's a bad idea, and I hope MSFT changes their position before GA. It's just not a necessary feature that needs to be out there. Why hand out unloaded guns to everyone and hope they don't seek bullets to use it? Just my two cents after a long day. Thanks for posting it.

To: Math Junkie who wrote (152)	6/15/2001 12:36:10 PM
From: caly	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 210

Richard, Here's a take on this issue from a very well-respected security guru: counterpane.com Unfortunately, most of the press about this escapade has centered around Gibson's accusations against Microsoft. He claims that Windows XP will make this much worse, and Microsoft has responded with its typical press propaganda. That's a pity, though, because I think Microsoft is mostly right here. It's just not true that you can't spoof Internet packets with current versions of Windows. It's not easy, but it's not impossible. Yes, Windows XP will make it worse. But as Gibson points out, it's amazingly bad right now.