[2103] in WWW Security List Archive
Re:Macintosh Web Server Issues
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Blake Sobiloff)
Wed May 15 16:53:08 1996
In-Reply-To: <n1379961229.39020@po.gis.prc.com>
Date: Wed, 15 May 1996 13:48:44 -0400
To: www-security@ns2.rutgers.edu
From: Blake Sobiloff <bsobilof@inet.ed.gov>
Errors-To: owner-www-security@ns2.rutgers.edu
At 7:58 AM -0400 5/15/96, Winkler Vic wrote:
>Consider the fact that the Mac (vanilla OS/HW) -- despite it's capabilities as
>the quintessential desktop platform -- has never been seriously considered
>for a
>substantial security/trust rating by any organization qualified to do so.
Oh, please--do we have to have another OS flamewar?
A single Mac's a good Internet server for sites that are going to get a
small to medium number of hits. It's also the easiest OS for the average
Joe to administer, and if you already know Macs, go with Macs. But, if you
know Windows, go with Windows (although you'll be happier with '95 or NT
than 3.1x). If you know UNIX, go with UNIX.
Every platform can be misconfigured to allow folks the freedom to do things
you didn't want them to do, and it really has very little (if anything) to
do with whether the OS has a security rating or not. Karl Mitze
<kgmlists@3rdmill.com>, the original poster of this thread, simply wanted
to know what security threats his Mac web server might be susceptable to.
David Ray <daver@idiom.com> and Matthew McGlynn <mcglynn@sentius.com>
helpfully pointed out a few configuration and software issues to be aware
of.
The fact remains that Karl has very little to worry about if he takes a few
simple precautions.
--
Blake Sobiloff <bsobilof@inet.ed.gov>
Internet Systems Analyst/Webmaster (speaking only for myself)
Decision Systems Technologies, Inc. <http://inet.ed.gov/~bsobilof/>
Greenbelt, MD 20770 USA C:\ONGRTLNS.W95
