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Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 14:38:13 -0500
From: "Michael H. Warfield" <mhw@wittsend.com>
To: Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>
Cc: Sandy Harris <sandy@storm.ca>, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: The NSA's Security-Enhanced Linux (fwd)
Message-ID: <20001222143813.C30319@alcove.wittsend.com>
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In-Reply-To: <E149X6e-000525-00@the-village.bc.nu>; from alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk on Fri, Dec 22, 2000 at 06:39:49PM +0000
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On Fri, Dec 22, 2000 at 06:39:49PM +0000, Alan Cox wrote:
> > These folks are good at what they do and the code is GPL.
> > It is worth starting to consider whether this code, or code
> > from one of the other security-enhancement projects, should
> > be included in the standard kernel for 2.6 or 3.0.

> I think this is a good point. Its actually a nice testimonial for free 
> software that its finally got the NSA contributing code in a way that everyone
> benefits from and which may help cut down computer crime beyond government.
> (and which of course actually is part of the NSA's real job)

> > > It's just code like everone else produces.

> > So people looking at it may find bugs and vulnerabilities the
> > implementers hadn't considered. Great.

> Yep. Im sure all sorts of people will be finding bugs in it because they are
> looking for secret NSA backdoors so why discourage them 8)

	Now that's a real damn good point that I hadn't thought of.
With everyone so paranoid about what backdoors they may have left (like
they would be that crazy to put them in and put it out in plain view
for everyone) that the code should end up getting a real good review
for bugs as well.  :-)  Such a deal.  :-)

	Mike
-- 
 Michael H. Warfield    |  (770) 985-6132   |  mhw@WittsEnd.com
  (The Mad Wizard)      |  (678) 463-0932   |  http://www.wittsend.com/mhw/
  NIC whois:  MHW9      |  An optimist believes we live in the best of all
 PGP Key: 0xDF1DD471    |  possible worlds.  A pessimist is sure of it!

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