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From: gerrit@sequent.com (Gerrit Huizenga)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Can a NeXT catch a *virus* or cold or..?
Message-ID: <1991Jun20.200604.1517@sequent.com>
Date: 20 Jun 91 20:06:04 GMT
References: <618@tansei1.tansei.cc.u-tokyo.ac.jp>
Sender: news@sequent.com (News on Muncher)
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.
Lines: 31

yoshida@tansei.cc.u-tokyo.ac.jp (Yoshida) writes:

>It occurred to me that I've never seen any discussion about
>*viruses* in this group...?  Is the NeXT "virus-proof" or
>something?  -I couldn't find any mention in the documentation
>in Librarian...?

No machine connected to a network and no machine which uses borrowed
software is virus-proof.  Because the NeXT machine utilizes memory
protection (via an MMU and UNIX based memory protection semantics) it is
more resistant to viruses than machines such as IBM PC's and most Apple
products.  While many of us in the past have encouraged NeXT to close the
"well-known" Unix based holes (and in general that have been reasonably
responsive), there are no guarantees that the NeXT is any more immune than
any other machine.

In the past, the newness and sparse use of some of the software technology
used on the NeXT has helped provide protection via obfuscation.  There is,
however, no excuse for anyone with a NeXT which either uses borrowed
software or connects their machine to a network to take all of the standard
systems administration precautions that an administrator would take for any
Unix based machine.  (I say Unix based becuase the NeXT is; however, the
same philosophies from any networkable machine still apply.  I.e. accounts
should use good passwords, privileged services should utilize sufficient
authorization mechanisms, etc).

It is also very important for administrators to continue to point out any
security problems to NeXT Computer, Inc. via the appropriate mechanisms
(i.e. not this newsgroup) so that those problems can be addressed.

gerrit