Secrecy and user trust

[Bill Davidsen <davidsen@xxxxxxx>]

Having been a participant or project leader for system programs, systems 
and network administration, and security development and monitoring for 
some decades, it seems to me that the Fedora project is lacking the most 
important clue on handling a security issue, that of keeping the users 
informed so they can make rational decisions.

If the infrastructure problem was caused by a disgruntled employee 
rather than a gaping hole in the security of the distribution, that 
should have been said, to reassure users that they don't have the same 
hole. Yes, there may be code which snuck in after the compromise, we 
understand that.

If there is a hole, users should know that, even if you don't have a 
fix, to avoid the impression that the problems are being covered up.

If there is a known date before which packages can be trusted, that 
should be said. Users who lag the cutting edge will be reassured. People 
won't have to be checking security logs for a decade if the problem is 
more recent. People on distributions older than FC8 which are not 
maintained should be told if the problem goes back that far.

--
Bill Davidsen <davidsen@xxxxxxx>
  "We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot

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