Security Rant (was Re: ipchains issue (Re: Webmin via Apache…

On Wed, 2002-06-26 at 07:58, Tom Achtenberg wrote:
> The point of this rant was, if Linux people want Linux to be common place and to be a "viable" alternative for the AVERAGE user, it needs to be made as easy to use as MS products. At this time, it is not. Telling the average user that if they don't like something, they should program it themselves the way they want is stupid. MS doesn't expect the average user to be a programmer and if Linux proponents want to see Linux on every desktop, they will not be able to demand that either. It isn't a "spoiled mentality of the Microsoft user", it is the reality that 99% of the computer users ARE NOT PROGRAMMERS and do not want to be. Computers are a tool they want to use to make their lives and jobs easier. Having to be a programmer to use one (which is the current state of affairs for Linux for the most part) will only drive them to systems that do not require them to expend large amounts of time and energy to learn programming.
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You are wrong Tom

System sets up just fine for average user.

In this case, Alan wanted to set it up as a server. This is NOT a
typical user function. This requires a bit more knowledge. Firewall
script installed at installation allowed him to choose the ports that he
wanted to have open. Poor planning isn't tolerated well in Windows world
either.

Helping doesn't necessarily have anything to do with programming. You
can write some help files - many of which need to be done. It's open
source which means that it is built through the efforts of people like
you and me as well as the programmers.

ipchains scripts & iptables scripts are available and really have
nothing to do with programming anyway. Programs like firestarter can
simplify the process for those who have little understanding of firewall
scripts. But firewall scripts have nothing to do with programming but
they do have something to do with understanding tcp/ip.

Craig