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www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html
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From: |
James Taylor |
|
Subject: |
www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html |
|
Date: |
Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:57:27 +0000 |
CVSROOT: /web/www
Module name: www
Changes by: James Taylor <azuvil> 10/10/11 16:57:26
Added files:
philosophy : the-root-of-this-problem.html
Log message:
New page for the article "The Root of This Problem is Software
Controlled by its Developers"
CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/philosophy/the-root-of-this-problem.html?cvsroot=www&rev=1.1
Patches:
Index: the-root-of-this-problem.html
===================================================================
RCS file: the-root-of-this-problem.html
diff -N the-root-of-this-problem.html
--- /dev/null 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 -0000
+++ the-root-of-this-problem.html 11 Oct 2010 16:57:23 -0000 1.1
@@ -0,0 +1,383 @@
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+
+<h2>The Root of This Problem is Software Controlled By its Developer</h2>
+
+<p>by Richard Stallman</p>
+
+<p>
+I fully agree with Jonathan Zittrainâs conclusion that we should not abandon
general-purpose computers. Alas, I disagree completely with the path that led
him there. He presents serious security problems as an intolerable crisis, but
Iâm not convinced. Then he forecasts that users will panic in response and
stampede toward restricted computers (which he calls âappliancesâ), but
there is no sign of this happening.</p>
+
+<p>
+Zombie machines are a problem, but not a catastrophe. Moreover, far from
panicking, most users ignore the issue. Today, people are indeed concerned
about the danger of phishing (mail and web pages that solicit personal
information for fraud), but using a browsing-only device instead of a general
computer wonât protect you from that.</p>
+
+<p>
+Meanwhile, Apple reported that 25% of iPhones have been unlocked. Surely at
least as many users would have preferred an unlocked iPhone but were afraid to
try a forbidden recipe to obtain it. This refutes the idea that users generally
prefer that their devices be locked.</p>
+
+<p>
+It is true that a general computer lets you run programs designed to spy on
you, restrict you, or even let the developer attack you. Such programs include
KaZaA, RealPlayer, Adobe Flash, Windows Media Player, Microsoft Windows, and
MacOS. Windows Vista does all three of those things; it also lets Microsoft
change the software without asking, or command it to permanently cease normal
functioning.</p>
+
+<p>
+But restricted computers are no help, because they have the same problem, for
the same reason.</p>
+
+<p>
+The iPhone is designed for remote attack by Apple. When Apple remotely
destroys iPhones that users have unlocked to enable other uses, that is no
better than when Microsoft remotely sabotages Vista. The TiVo is designed to
enforce restrictions on access to the recordings you make, and reports what you
watch. E-book readers such as the Amazon âSwindleâ are designed to stop you
from sharing and lending your books. Features that artificially obstruct use of
your data are known as DRM, or Digital Restrictions Management (our adversaries
call DRM âDigital Rights Management,â based on their idea that restricting
you is their rightâchoose a term and choose your side); our protest campaign
against DRM is hosted at DefectiveByDesign.org.</p>
+
+<p>
+The nastiest of the common restricted devices are cell phones. They transmit
signals for tracking your whereabouts even when switched âoffâ; the only
way to stop this is to take out all the batteries. Many can also be turned on
remotely, for listening, without telling you. (The FBI has done so already, and
the U.S. Commerce Department lists this danger in its Security Guide.) Cellular
phone network companies regularly install software in usersâ phones, without
asking, to impose new usage restrictions.</p>
+
+<p>
+With a general computer you can escape by rejecting such programs. You donât
have to have KaZaA, RealPlayer, Adobe Flash, Windows Media Player, Microsoft
Windows or MacOS on your computer (I donât). By contrast, a restricted
computer gives you no escape from the software built into it.</p>
+
+<p>
+The root of this problem, both in general PCs and restricted computers, is
software controlled by its developer. The developer (typically a corporation)
controls what the program does, and prevents everyone else from changing it. If
the developer decides to put in malicious features, even a master programmer
cannot easily remove them.</p>
+
+<p>
+The remedy is to give the users more control, not less. We must insist on
free/libre software, software that the users are free to change and
redistribute. Free/libre software develops under the control of its users: if
they donât like its features, for whatever reason, they can change them. If
youâre not a programmer, you still get the benefit of control by the users. A
programmer can make the improvements you would like, and publish the changed
version. Then you can use it too.</p>
+
+<p>
+With free/libre software, no one has the power to make a malicious feature
stick. Since the source code is available to the users, millions of programmers
are in a position to spot and remove the malicious feature and release an
improved version; someone will surely do so. Others can independently compare
the two versions to assure you which version treats you right. As a practical
fact, free software is generally devoid of designed-in malware.</p>
+
+<p>
+Many people do obtain restricted devices, but not for motives of security. Why
do people choose them?</p>
+
+<p>
+Sometimes it is because the restricted devices are physically smaller. I edit
text literally all day, and I find the keyboard and screen of a laptop well
worth the size and weight. However, people who use computers differently may
prefer something that fits in a pocket. In the past, these devices have
typically been restricted, but they werenât chosen for that reason.</p>
+
+<p>
+Now they are becoming less restricted. In fact, the OpenMoko cell phone
features a main computer running entirely free/libre software, including the
GNU/Linux operating system normally used on PCs and servers.</p>
+
+<p>
+A major motive for purchasing some restricted computers is financial sleight
of hand. Game consoles, and the iPhone, are sold for an unsustainably low
price, and the manufacturers then charge when you use them. Thus, game
developers must pay the game console manufacturer to distribute a game, and
they pass this cost on to the user. Likewise, AT&T pays Apple when an iPhone is
used as a telephone. The low up-front price misleads customers into thinking
they will save money.</p>
+
+<p>
+If we are concerned about the spread of restricted computers, we should tackle
the price deception that sells them. If we are concerned with malware, we
should insist on free software that gives the users control.</p>
+
+<p>
+Postnote: Zittrainâs suggestion to reduce the statute of limitations on
software patent lawsuits is a tiny step in the right direction, but it is much
easier to solve the whole problem. Software patents are an unnecessary,
artificial danger imposed on all software developers and users in the US. Every
program is a combination of many methods and techniquesâthousands of them in
a large program. If patenting these methods is allowed, then hundreds of those
used in a given program are probably patented. (Avoiding them is not feasible;
there may be no alternatives, or the alternatives may be patented too.) So the
developers of the program face hundreds of potential lawsuits from parties
unknown, and the users can be sued as well.</p>
+
+<p>
+The complete, simple solution is to eliminate patents from the field of
software. Since the patent system is created by statute, eliminating patents
from software will be easy given political will. See endsotfpatents.org.</p>
+
+<p>
+Right now, companies that distribute the free/libre anti-virus package ClamAV
are being sued for patent infringement by Trend Micro. Many of our networks are
protected from viruses by ClamAV. Donât tolerate such aggressionâboycott
Trend Micro and any company that uses patents to attack software developers and
users. </p>
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- www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html,
James Taylor <=
- www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html, James Taylor, 2010/10/11
- www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html, James Taylor, 2010/10/11
- www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html, James Taylor, 2010/10/11
- www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html, James Taylor, 2010/10/11
- www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html, Jeanne Rasata, 2010/10/12
- www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html, Jeanne Rasata, 2010/10/12
- www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html, Jeanne Rasata, 2010/10/12
- www/philosophy the-root-of-this-problem.html, Jeanne Rasata, 2010/10/12