Mobile code security (was Re: rr style scanning of non-customers)

Mon Jun 16 06:48:19 UTC 2003

On Mon, 16 Jun 2003, Paul Vixie wrote:

>
> > Should ISPs control what applications their customers can run?
>
> frankly and truly, i would be satisfied if isp's wouldn't run outlook/exchange
> in their noc/abuse departments, so that they could safely accept mime-mail
> rather than bouncing it as their only means of keeping themselves virus-free.

yea, if my sister in-law (who barely knows what 'computer' means most
times) can come to the conclusion that:
1) all email viruses of note are outlook targetted
2) everyone with outlook gets viruses

therefore

3) why would anyone ever run outlook

why can't multibillion dollar companies figure that out? it does mystify
me :)

>
> i love it when mime shows up here.  mh-e just has no idea what to do with a
> "pif" or "exe" file.  the whole concept of having to run "mime defang" at the
> gateway because an abuse desk worker or backbone engineer has a fragile user
> agent is completely ridiculous and there is no possible explaination for it.
> (if this is your situation then quit, or fire somebody, as appropriate.)
>

go pine! (or mh or elm or... mailx!)