RE: [Visualpython-users] UPDATE: High School Network Security

[Ives, T. W. <tho...@hp...>]

Frank,

I thought these links might be helpful in your case:
http://www.python.org/Quotes.html Where several key industry rep's
praise Python. If you get them past loading Python, VPython should be
easy.

thom=20


> -----Original Message-----
> From: vis...@li...=20
> [mailto:vis...@li...] On=20
> Behalf Of Frank Noschese
> Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 12:00 PM
> To: vis...@li...; ed...@py...
> Subject: [Visualpython-users] UPDATE: High School Network Security
>=20
> Hello again,
>=20
> Thanks to everyone that gave input to my Vpython installation=20
> roadblock. Like Arthur said, this is not a situation which=20
> will be fixed by a little "education." I asked the tech=20
> coordinator to outline the reasons why installing open source=20
> is not in the school's best interest. Here is the reply:
>=20
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> "In Reference to our ticket #313, there are a number of=20
> reasons why we (the technical team) decided that it would not=20
> be in keeping with the "best practices" of the district to=20
> install open source software on the districts computers and=20
> network. Four key reasons are as follows:
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> 1) Lack of technical support from the 'vendor'. Since most=20
> open source software is provided 'free' and is not maintained=20
> by a central vendor, technical support is limited if not non=20
> existent. With this lack of technical support of the software=20
> products in question, we have no way of getting help when the=20
> software has a problem or is the cause of problems with the network.
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> 2) Product testing was another reason. Since there are so=20
> many contributors to open source software, in many cases, the=20
> software is not tested for compatibility and stability. As=20
> such, there is no level of expectation that the product will=20
> function as stated. Further more, with the limited testing of=20
> the software, we have no idea of what problems or ill effects=20
> the software may have on the computers and network.
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> 3) Legal issues. According to the American Bar Association,=20
> Contributors do not vouch for the cleanliness of the code=20
> they contribute to the project; in fact, the opposite is true=20
> -- the standard open source license is designed to be very=20
> protective of the contributor. The typical license form does=20
> not include any intellectual property representations,=20
> warranties or indemnities in favor of the licensee; it=20
> contains a broad disclaimer of all warranties that benefits=20
> the licensor/contributors. Seeing in that there is no way for=20
> us to verify that the code that contributors are adding is=20
> there own, we may be opening up the district to legal actions=20
> should the software or portions there of are copyrighted and=20
> being used illegally or improperly. See attachment for more detail...
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> 4) Security of the "system." Since in most cases, anyone can=20
> obtain a copy of the source code of the software (OPEN=20
> SOURCE), we are running the risk of a user being able to=20
> modify the software on the network and manipulated it in such=20
> a manor to produce undesired effects. Since we have to look=20
> out for the stability and security of the network, this was=20
> viewed as a possible security issue. Another security concern=20
> is the ability of virus introduction. Since the source code=20
> is open, anyone so inclined, could create a virus to exploit=20
> the software without much difficulty. This ability to=20
> introduce a virus or other malicious code to the system can=20
> have the effect of bringing the system "down"
> and possible data loss or corruption."
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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> Also included in the email was information from the American=20
> Bar Association
> at: <http://www.abanet.org/intelprop/opensource.html>
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> Any thoughts from you folks? Do they have any truly valid=20
> points? Perhaps a "Live CD" is my best (only?) option.
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> Many thanks again,
> Frank Noschese
> John Jay High School
> Cross River, NY
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>=20
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