Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!mintaka!ogicse!orstcs!prism!mickelp From: mickelp@prism.cs.orst.edu (Paul M. Mickel ) Newsgroups: comp.admin.policy Subject: Re: RFC on my "abuse" Message-ID: <1991Jun26.023211.4222@lynx.CS.ORST.EDU> Date: 26 Jun 91 02:32:11 GMT Article-I.D.: lynx.1991Jun26.023211.4222 References: <1991Jun25.173013.3784@mp.cs.niu.edu> <1991Jun25.192914.23335@cs.utk.edu> Sender: @lynx.CS.ORST.EDU Distribution: usa Organization: Oregon State University, Computer Science Dept. Lines: 52 Nntp-Posting-Host: prism.cs.orst.edu In article J Greely writes: >In article <1991Jun25.192914.23335@cs.utk.edu> de5@ornl.gov (Dave Sill) writes: >>Attempting to anonymous ftp to random sites is, in my opinion, rude at >>worst. But any site admin that freaks out over the occasional attempt >>hasn't got a firm grasp on reality. > >Actually, they may have a firmer grip than you. Older versions of >ftpd had holes big enough to drive a truck through. If I spotted >someone out at bfe.edu attempting to connect to each of our machines >in turn, I'd be more than a little suspicious, and would probably send >mail to the admins there asking them to check it out. [some deleted for brevity] > > It sounds like the actions taken by the original sysadmins were >quite reasonable. >-- >J Greely (jgreely@cis.ohio-state.edu; osu-cis!jgreely) In reading all of the articles on this subject, I have reached some conclusions: 1. That the justification for this action really depends on the site. As this poster pointed out, if there are some problems with security via anomyous ftp, then maybe the sysadmin at that site is justified in making a ruckus. 2. As far as I understand it, that anomyous ftp is provided as a courtesy to others. If only one user is causing the problem, then an email request to that person is in order requesting a discontinuance of the action. However, this person should not lose their account for trying to access an ftp site that is public. If the sysadmin *really* doesn't like it, then maybe he should cosider removing the anomyous ftp from his site, but not ask for the offending user's head on a platter, so to speak. I guess that the moral to this story is that the sysadmin at the anomyous ftp site should consider his policy toward anomyous ftp, and act according- ly. He should also remember that there are always unforseen problems associated with anomyous ftp and use his judgement before acting. #include Paul M. Mickel mickelp@prism.cs.orst.edu Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331 -------------------------------------------------------------------- "Where there's life and food, there is hope." - own saying