There is a long and somewhat heated argument taking place in the Ubuntu forums over a post by Ian Jackson in the Ubuntu Developers mail list, which is a wrapup of a discussion held on the irc #ubuntu-devel channel. The post advocates a change in the Ubuntu security policy by making it more difficult for new users to install untrusted 3rd party software.
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candtalan
17 years 2 days 31 min 38 sec ago
I have no doubt that exploits will
I have no doubt that exploits will happen via untrusted software, probably binaries, at some time in the future, it is the most obvious and easiest route for malware. It will be interesting to see how the community reacts, and users too. The publicity around such events will focus minds well.
However, the solution at this time is not really to add checks or more difficulties for the install, there is obviously a need for the particular app or it would not be installed in the first place. The pincer movement could be both continued education of the users and perhaps more effort to make open alternatives available. And of course, vigilance about the binaries themselves, by those who have the skills.