Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ub.d.umn.edu!cs.umn.edu!cybrspc!roy
From: roy%cybrspc@cs.umn.edu (Roy M. Silvernail)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Is Prodigy safe to use?
Message-ID: <Nqmeu2w163w@cybrspc>
Date: 19 Dec 90 02:14:22 GMT
References: <1990Dec16.031022.22166@jwt.UUCP>
Organization: Villa CyberSpace, Minneapolis, MN
Lines: 25

john@jwt.UUCP (John Temples) writes:

> What's so special about Prodigy's software that people are singling
> it out as "dangerous?"  A disgruntled employee at Microsoft could
> program Windows [possibilities deleted]

I think the reason for the concern is that, while the scenarios you
describe _could_ take place, it would require tainting of a new release
of the software. The current [Windows | WP | etc.] seems to be secure.

On the other hand, the current version of the Prodigy software is
_already equipped_ to change files on your filesystem. No need to wait
for you to buy something new when the back door is already in place, and
has been from the inception of Prodigy.

> If you run binaries written by other people, you are taking a risk.
> If you want to be paranoid, you can come up with all sorts of
> horrifying scenarios.  Keep good backups, and don't lose any sleep
> over it.

Agreed. But I still don't go to bed with my doors unlocked.
--
Roy M. Silvernail |+|  roy%cybrspc@cs.umn.edu  |+| #define opinions ALL_MINE;
main(){float x=1;x=x/50;printf("It's only $%.2f, but it's my $%.2f!\n",x,x);}
"This is cyberspace." -- Peter da Silva  :--:  "...and I like it here!" -- me