Re: [SLUG] Further to the deadly authentication.

[wbennett@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Erik de Castro Lopo wrote:

> Installation of authenticated binaries is a good idea. Its a
> way of ensuring that you are installing the binary that your
> distribution intended you to install. It reduces the likelihood
> of you and others installing compromised software.

Well, I'm happy to follow advice in this matter. Even so, I'm still
curious about unauthenticated software. What's the rationale in producing
it?

> It should also be noted that the first time Linux suffers a
> widespread infection of malware will be the most damaging
> in terms of the reputation of Linux. That will be the time
> that the microsofties will be able to say "look, Linux is
> just as bad".

They probably will, but I don't think it will be catastrophic. I remember
when a virus was finally produced for Apple machines. The microsofties
reacted as you said, but Apple's reply was "It took you ages to produce a
virus that worked and, in any event, we were on to it like a shot." Linux
has more than its fair share of geeks and I'm always astonished at their
ingenuity.

>    LANG=
>    sudo apt-get update

Well, I did, although I like to know what I'm doing. The sudo etc I
understand, but what's LANG= please?

Regards,

Bill Bennett.