Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!uunet!bu-cs!purdue!decwrl!sgi!arisia!jlevy
From: jlevy@arisia.Xerox.COM (Jacob Levy)
Newsgroups: gnu.emacs.bug
Subject: Re: chmod 777
Message-ID: <447@arisia.Xerox.COM>
Date: 16 Nov 88 17:23:45 GMT
References: <8811142028.AA00709@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu>
Reply-To: jlevy@arisia.UUCP (Jacob Levy)
Distribution: gnu
Organization: Xerox PARC
Lines: 17

In article <8811142028.AA00709@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu> rms@WHEATIES.AI.MIT.EDU (Richard Stallman) writes:
>I do not believe it is a good thing to have security among the users
>of a computer system.  If I were to distribute files that set the mode
>to something other than 777, I would in effect be promoting the practice
>that I do not approve of.  Therefore, I don't do it.

Yes, but other systems may not subscribe to your beliefs. You're
mixing two issues here: (a) the commendable desire to have free
software like Gnu Emacs being in wide-spread use, and (b) Your
desire to eliminate security and protection. Shouldn't it be
possible to use Gnu Emacs (i.e. contribute towards your (a) goal)
without subscribing to your (b) goal? Also, shouldn't you warn
people about POSSIBLE security holes like the one mentioned, and
others which (for all we know, we have not the time to read the
code) are intentionally planted?

--Jacob Levy