- From: Access Systems <accessys@smart.net>
- Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 21:52:48 -0400 (EDT)
- To: david poehlman <poehlman1@comcast.net>
- Cc: wai-ig list <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
On Sat, 17 Jul 2004, david poehlman wrote: > We've been having this discussion and here is the most recent message of the > thread which has some interesting thoughts in it. > > I have not cross posted because of potential complications with replies, but > it might be helpful for this discussion to take place here given our > expertise and wide knowledge. > > Thanks! OK since this throws at least a dozen urban legends about linux around I guess I should take a stab at some of them. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Gene Asner" <gsasner@RIPCO.COM> > To: <BLIND-L@LISTSERV.UARK.EDU> > Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 7:29 PM > Subject: Re: Scambusters Recommends Against Using Internet Explorer > > Catherine > There are two or three things to consider: > First, Since Internet Explorer and Outlook Express are the main browser > and e-mail program in use, virus writers and spyware writers focus on > these programs. While Microsoft doesn't do as much as it could as fast as > it could to make these programs as secure as possible, any other browser > or e-mail program that became popular would be specifically targeted as BUT due to the basic structure of the operating system unless M$ completely changes their BIOS and other critical substructures they will never be able to make it as secure as even the most basic UNIX or UNIX like system such as linux. to describe it simply the M$ structure is like a giant heilium balloon., any damage any where brings the balloon down, linux (and other uinx like OS) are like a handfull of little balloons you can damage one, two or more balloons but the rest stay up. the linux structure is built of many many little mostly independent processes running pretty much autonomously. knock out one, use another to fix the one. and since the kernel or core is isolated an attack can only get to one of the nodes and is stopped before going further. some damage maybe but a total crash, next to impossible (nothings impossible) > Explorer and Outlook Express takes the proper precautions, then he/she is > not at much risk for infection by viruses nor from spyware. While > identity theft is a problem, there are all sorts of ways in which that > occurs and the problems with spyware and viruses isn't nearly the whole and with the same types of firewalls and buffers etc, linux is even more secure > picture. I bet lots more people suffer identity theft by answering scam > e-mails that look as though they come from legitimate companies than do by > being infected by viruses or spyware. I'm not saying that people not much you can do for pshishing, education education education but that cannot be blamed on any software or hardware, that is a jellyware problem > Technically, the main reason that other browsers don't work well with > screen-readers is that in order for them to do so, screen-reader no they don't work well because the writers of websites don't follow the guidelines set down by W3C or the laws of various countries, this is a compliance problem and a few good lawsuits might wake up some of the lazy programmers who refuse to write code correctly > manufacturers and designers would have to specifically program through > scripts, set files, perhaps with code built into the screen-reader > itself,the ability for the screen-reader to work with each browser. Even NO, why won't CSS, and HTML work > using Microsoft Active Accessibility, MSAA, wouldn't help matters in terms > of making more browsers accessible because for this to work, the browser > designer would have to encorporate MSAA into the browser ore e-mail or maybe (heaven forbit) M$ follows the web standards rather than try to create their own that forces people to buy their outragously overpriced bloated software > program and then screen-reader designers would have to [program on their > end to allow the browser to work properly. I agree that blind people > should have a choice of more than one browser. but how many? My opinion no as far as I know all browsers work on properly coded CSS - HTML > is that Netscape should be the other. Netscape is used in some work netscape isn't even supported anymore, the succesor is Mozila, it looks and feels like netscape but is more advanced and stable > designers of Netscape, not screen-reader designers. With all the other > needs blind computer users have for access to other widely used programs, > I certainly wouldn't want to see screen-reader designers divert time and > resources away from these other programs to make more browsers accessible. there are quite a number of screen readers avaliable in the open source community. most of these work differently from M$ in that M$ reads the code and if your using something other than M$ it can't read the code. most of the open source screen readers read the output to the monitor (what ever is or even is not there) the output to the monitor is pretty standard amoung all operating systems since they need to be able to use the commercially avaliable moniters. > What all this boils down to, in summary, is that while security is a > problem, it's not nearly as severe as it seems from the frightening from my perspective it is a huge waste of time caused by poor system design, why should anyone have to spend extra money for extra protection for an weak system, nor should one have to spend all that time constantly downloading patch, after patch after patch to fix the patch that wasn't right the last ttime you patched it. and having to wait days, weeks months to even get the patch. linux has flaws and there are patches, but I have never seen a vulnerability last more than 24 hours and most even less, and visit the average linux patch site and find a very small fraction of the number of patches needed compared to that other software > Internet, there is no other remotely reasonable alternative if one wants > access to full Internet functionality. I can't comment with much > knowledge about those using Linux (spelling) but I'd be very doubtful that > Linux screen-readers provide nearly as good access. I use a Windows then let someone who has been 100% M$ free for over 5 years comment. there are several good screen readers for linux and something M$ doesn't have a full team of people who only deal with linux access lead by a person who is blind. > before either. It's a question of what was more work, in the early days, > it was learning how to connect and setting up one's screen-reader. Now > it's protecting yourself. why have to waste time doing either for those interested the visually impaired home page for blind linux users is http://leb.net/blinux/ (blinux Blind+linux) there is also the text based screen reader that may be the most powerfull out there, a bit complicated to learn to use but is there any thing better than emacspeak. for those who want full graphics screen readers there is Gnopernicus http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gap let not the "HIGHLY PAID SALESMEN" with bloated and overpriced software and huge advertising budgets scare one away. there are lean FREE options avaliable and they don't need the latest and greatest and most expensive new hardware every two years to be able to work CODE PROPERLY, Follow the guidelines and laws, and ANY screenreader works on any website. THE WEB IS DAMAGED, fix the web not me, I AM NOT BROKEN (rolling down off soapbox) Bob ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CONFIGURE YOUR E-MAIL TO SEND TEXT ONLY, see http://expita.com/nomime.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve Neither liberty nor safety", Benjamin Franklin - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASCII Ribbon Campaign accessBob NO HTML/PDF/RTF in e-mail accessys@smartnospam.net NO MSWord docs in e-mail Access Systems, engineers NO attachments in e-mail, *LINUX powered* access is a civil right *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# THIS message and any attachments are CONFIDENTIAL and may be privileged. They are intended ONLY for the individual or entity named
Received on Saturday, 17 July 2004 21:47:53 UTC