Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!nuchat!sugar!peter
From: peter@sugar.uu.net (Peter da Silva)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Internet UNIX (BSD) virus
Keywords: UNIX, BSD. Virus, worm
Message-ID: <2976@sugar.uu.net>
Date: 10 Nov 88 02:28:17 GMT
References: <13232@oberon.USC.EDU> <2954@sugar.uu.net> <13280@oberon.USC.EDU> <13322@oberon.USC.EDU>
Organization: Sugar Land Unix - Houston, TX
Lines: 39

In article <13322@oberon.USC.EDU>, papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) writes:
[ a bunch of stuff ]

> Quoting a fellow on the net that took the time for a personal reply:
> "You must be running UNIX System V, in single user mode, with no network
> connection, without any application binary on disk" :-)

No, we're running a network of Xenix boxes with a single external uucp-only
connect. Our login is slightly modified. We don't have any illusions about
security between our machines, but I think it'd be at least moderately hard
to get in in the first place.

Of course since you claim that Xenix isn't UNIX I guess we must be safe.

> You definitely have a long way to go (5 years to catch up). Go buy the 
> 4.3 manuals at least; they're only $55 from USENIX.

If you have a 4.3 license they are. Otherwise they're not available at any
price. Why don't you quote the respective "BUGS" sections from today's
Berkeley manuals.

Here is the bottom line. I'm not going to say this again.

UNIX is not endowed with any particular virtue that makes it any more immune
to invasion than other minicomputer operating systems.

UNIX is not endowed with any particular failing that makes in any less immune
to invasion than other minicomputer operating systems.

Any minicomputer operating system, with multiuser protections and passwords,
is less susceptible than any microcomputer system with no protection at all.
If I lock my car it is slightly harder to break in to. I mightn't be able to
keep a professional car-thief out, but the neighborhood kids won't take it for
a joy-ride.
-- 
		    Peter da Silva  `-_-'  peter@sugar.uu.net
		     Have you hugged  U  your wolf today?

	      Disclaimer: My typos are my own damn business.