[DISCUSS] Oh boy... (fwd)

[Kara Pritchard <kara@luci.org>]

This is from the St Louis Unix group's list... what a crock of... 
butter!@#!@!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 09:52:46 -0500 (CDT)
To: discuss@sluug.org
Subject: [DISCUSS] Oh boy...

This got my blood boiling pretty early in the morning.


http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?bw.053002/221502375

Open Source Software May Offer Target for Terrorists, According to Study
by Alexis de Tocqueville Institution's Committee for the Common Defense

     Business Editors

     WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 30, 2002--Terrorists trying to hack
or disrupt U.S. computer networks might find it easier if the federal
government attempts to switch to "open source" as some groups propose.
     "Opening the Open Source Debate", a soon to be released white paper
by Alexis de Tocqueville Institution details the complex issues
surrounding open source, particularly if federal agencies such as the
Department of Defense or the Federal Aviation Administration use
software that inherently requires that its blueprints, source code and
architecture is made widely available to any person interested - without
discretion.
     In a paper to be released next week, the Alexis de Tocqueville
Institution outlines how open source might facilitate efforts to disrupt
or sabotage electronic commerce, air traffic control or even sensitive
surveillance systems.
     Unlike proprietary software, open source software does not make the
underlying code of a software confidential.
     "Computer systems are the backbone to U.S. national security", says
Fossedal, chairman of the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution and its
Committee for the Common Defense, which will release the study. "Before
the Pentagon and other federal agencies make uninformed decision to
alter the very foundation of computer security, they should study the
potential consequences carefully."

     CONTACT: Alexis de Tocqueville Institution
              Ken Brown, 202/548-0006
              kenbrown@adti.net
              www.adti.net

     KEYWORD: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
     INDUSTRY KEYWORD: E-COMMERCE GOVERNMENT INTERNET
     SOURCE: Alexis de Tocqueville Institution






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