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From: chelsea@dartvax.UUCP (Karen Christenson)
Newsgroups: net.text,net.unix
Subject: Re: Use of ``vi'' for business office word-processing
Message-ID: <5223@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 3-Oct-86 10:52:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: dartvax.5223
Posted: Fri Oct  3 10:52:57 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 6-Oct-86 18:24:40 EDT
References: <1246@kitty.UUCP> <141@rayssd.UUCP> <2433@phri.UUCP> <2046@saber.UUCP> <7154@utzoo.UUCP> <2048@saber.UUCP>
Reply-To: chelsea@dartvax.UUCP (Karen Christenson)
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 36
Xref: mnetor net.text:1040 net.unix:5774


>>>Security is another important issue.  Much clerical data (pay rates,
>>>customer lists, job evaluations) is much safer on a floppy disk in a drawer
>>>than on a UNIX system.  Only constant vigilance can keep any UNIX system
>>>secure, and that vigilance is most unlikely in an office environment.
>
>Most of the examples you cite (locked drawers, hairpins in locks) concern
>concerted and deliberiate attempts to breach security.  My original article
>was more concerned with the casual snoop.  The average UNIX system is more
>likely to have casual pokers-around and security-testers then most OA
>systems.
>
>Many perceive a big difference between looking in the corners of a file
>system and snooping through someone else's desk.  They're the ones I was
>writing about.
>
>Phil Gustafson			Voice:	(408)435-8600
>Saber Technology Corp.
>2381 Bering Drive		Mail:	decwrl!sun!saber!phil
>San Jose, CA 95131			idi!saber!phil

     You also need to protect information, etc. from the users, especially
novice users.  One company bought a Mac application (Word or File or
something like that).  The secretaries used a magnet to hold it onto a
cabinet so that everyone could use it.  Of course, they had problems.  We
fix malfunctioning Mac disks in the office here.  Sometimes you can't really
tell what caused the error, there are so many possible factors.  Sometimes
I think they're just spontaneous.  A Unix system is more reliable in this
respect.  Certainly, if they're unsophisticated enough to stick a magnet
onto a disk and then wonder why it doesn't work anymore, they're not
sophisticated enough to threaten security.  User aptitude is a significant
factor in making the best choice.

						Karen Christenson
"Mostly harmless."				...!dartvax!chelsea
			Have an adequate day.