[1241] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Are All Public-Access Resources Public?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Thu Sep 17 13:58:05 1992
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1992 12:49:22 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
5 Messages, 151 Lines
*-----
From: SOLIBMD@GSVMS2.CC.GASOU.EDU
Subject: Are all public-access resources public?
Internet access is such that any source which provides access is probably
dreaming if they think it will be limited to usage by certain clientele
simply by stating it is a "local community resource". I would venture to
state that if access is to be limited, that should be done by those who
post the information on the internet for their clientele. If they wish
to limit usage, they should put the security controls in place to insure
that this is done. Networking being what it is today, I doubt they will
have much success at limiting access unless it is done in a systematic
way at the source computer. We are all concerned about security, and if
we wish to have controlled access to certain files, etc., those controls
need to be implemented on site. At our university site, we permit access
to computer resources according to security and authorization procedures
which we carefully consider. Thus, access to our library online catalog,
but we block out access to files which we do not consider public.
Mary K. Dudman
Systems Librarian
Zach S. Henderson Library
Georgia Southern University
solibmd@gsvms2.cc.gasou.edu
*-----
From: Carol Goodson/West GA College <CGOODSON@UGA>
Subject: Re: Are all public-access resources public?
On Wed, 16 Sep 1992 12:12:07 CDT <NPRESTON@SUVM> said:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Recently I tried to find out about all the public-accessible Internet
>sites that offer the ERIC database.
>In the process, I discovered that some sites that _can_ be accessed
>by anyone using the Internet didn't want me to advertise this fact.
>They intend their ERIC data to be for their community only; they are
>afraid of their system being overloaded;
>
>So what do you Pacselites think? Should we observe others' wishes
>when it comes to announcing "public" resources? (And how could this
>be enforced?) Or should we go ahead and share what appears to be
>public, leaving it up to the hosts to create some barrier if they
>want to?
>
***I think I am gradually becoming resigned to the fact that there will be
more and more restrictions on access to all this great network information
as awareness grows...I hate it, but it's inevitable...no such thing as a
free lunch, and all that...someone (besides the actual users) is paying for
all this now...they will soon figure out a way to make this arrangement
more equitable...in my state, the University System-supported network
(PeachNet) is currently open to anyone who has the phone numbers...
but within about a month this will end, and users will somehow have to be
affiliated with the University System in order to use it fully...since they
are footing the bill, it's hard to argue... I telnetted to a library and
accessed a series of famous and expensive periodical indexes for free...what
would that company think if they knew about it? They're bound to find out
eventually, and this access will end, too...all a matter of time...
..................................................................
| Carol Goodson, Coordinator/Off-Campus Library Services |
| Ingram Library, West Georgia College |
| Carrollton GA 30118 |
| PHONE: (706) 830-2360 FAX: (706) 836-6626 |
| BITNET: cgoodson@uga INTERNET: cgoodson@uga.cc.uga.edu |
| CompuServe: 70253,1146 cgoodson@sun.wga.peachnet.edu|
..................................................................
"You only live once: but once is enough if you play it right"
--Woody Allen (Interiors)
............................................................
*----- 41
From: "David J. Romani" <DROMANI@UNC.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Are all public-access resources public?
Nancy,
The fastest way to lose access to a resource is to abuse it.
Remember, telnet or ftp access to _any_ site is a privilege
and _not_ a right. The owners of the site are granting
you a favor. Any site which is overwhelmed by remote access
is well within its rights to control that access by imposing
limits on the number of remote logins, the hours during which
they are allowed, the length of the connection, or limiting
access to certain known hosts. Indeed they can pull the
plug entirely.
To have gained knowledge of how to access a site under a
promise not to spread the news, and then to turn around and
to publicize it is reprehensible. You will teach the owners
of the site exactly the wrong set of lessons about the
internet community. Yes, the ultimate responsibility for
controlling access, like the responsibility for security,
rests with the host site, but stop, think, and act both
honestly and honorably. Someday it may be your site,
your machine, and your resources.
David Romani
Library Systems, Davis Library
Univeristy of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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From: Fred Bogin <FDBBC@CUNYVM>
Subject: Re: Are all public-access resources public?
IF an institution has mounted databases that are to be accessed only by
certain groups of users (e.g. their patrons) there are ways to require
an id of some sort for access. We mounted 4 Wilson databases on our
NOTIS system earlier this year. If you try to access them you must
provide your id number. I have seen many catalogs around the US that
have a similar kind of password protection. If it's available to the
general public then I believe in following the dictum "All users are
created equal."
Fred Bogin
BI Librarian, etc.
Brooklyn College Library
Bedford Ave. & Ave. H
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11210
(718) 780-5341
BITNET: FDBBC@CUNYVM
INTERNET: FDBBC@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
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From: Genny Engel <gen@magnum.ucop.edu>
Subject: Re: Are all public-access resources public?
On Wed, 16 Sep 1992, NPRESTON%SUVM.bitnet@uccvma.ucop.edu wrote:
> In the process, I discovered that some sites that _can_ be accessed
> by anyone using the Internet didn't want me to advertise this fact.
> ....
> So what do you Pacselites think? Should we observe others' wishes
> when it comes to announcing "public" resources? (And how could this
> be enforced?) Or should we go ahead and share what appears to be
> public, leaving it up to the hosts to create some barrier if they
> want to?
>
I prefer to ask if it's OK to publicize the resources. I don't think it's
correct to assume that "everyone's going to use it anyway" just because it's
out there -- if you were really assuming that, why would you bother
publicizing anything?
Fear of getting one's network ports swamped is a valid fear; not wanting to
violate license agreements by invited nonaffiliated users onto one's system
is also valid (although generally vendors will require some passwording
system or other means of authenticating remote users of a licensed database).
I see no reason to create ill will by ignoring these problems and announcing
systems anyway; I also see very good reason NOT to announce them, as it is
a disservice to our users to announce a resource that then DOES get a
barrier erected just when everyone was starting to depend on it.
Genny Engel
MELVYL System User Services
University of California
gen@magnum.ucop.edu
